Explained: Why Does Internet Want To Ban Aamir Khan’s Son Junaid Khan Starrer Maharaj?
Internet is offended by Maharaj for telling a true story instead of being offended by the religious leaders who exploit women.
X (previously Twitter) has always been the platform for people to voice their opinions on anything and everything under the sun. From celebrating victories to cancelling people and boycotting films, netizens have always shared their mixed reactions on the internet. Ahead of the release of Aamir Khan’s son Junaid Khan’s debut film Maharaj, #BoycottNetflix and #BanMaharaj has been trending on Twitter. Social media users are calling out the Junaid Khan starrer film for hurting religious sentiments and portraying Hindu gurus and saints in a negative light.
Why Is #BoycottNetflix #BanMaharaj Trending On X?
The poster for Maharaj shows a tilak-sporting, tuft-bearing man on one side, while there is a sharply dressed young man (Amir Khan’s son Junaid
— Nandini Idnani 🚩🇮🇳 (@nandiniidnani69) June 13, 2024
As always Anti-Hindu web series and movies have been shown on Netflix in the past as well #BoycottNetflix | Ban Maharaj Film
Boycott… pic.twitter.com/ynzh91HGD3
Directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, Maharaj is based on the Maharaj Libel Case of 1862. The case was a legal battle fought between a Gujurati journalist and social activist and a religious leader in the pre-independence era in Bombay Court. A religious leader filed a defamation case against journalist Karsandas Mulji after he wrote an article in his newspaper and levelled severe sexual misconduct allegations against the religious guru. So, what triggered this controversy on the internet?
The poster of Maharaj features Junaid Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat standing side by side with Jaideep’s character wearing a tilak on his forehead as Junaid’s character is dressed in a waistcoat. Just the poster and information about the storyline of the film led to major controversy as social media users expressed their anger with the way certain cultural aspects are depicted in the film (that is yet to release) and called for boycott of the OTT platform Netflix along with a ban on the Aamir Khan’s son’s debut film. Maharaj faced severe backlash even before it released for the portrayal of Hindu sadhus and saint as sexual predators and miscreants which several users found offensive and inaccurate. There was also a log of anger around the way Sanatan Dharma has been portrayed in the film. Expressing her anger, VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi called for a ban on the film. “Won’t tolerate the disrespect of Sanatan Dharma. Ban Maharaj Film. #BoycottNetflix,” said Hindutva politician Sadhvi Prachi on X.
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Who Was Karsandas Mulji?
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The movie is based on Karsandas Mulji, a journalist and a social reformer. He was an advocate for women’s rights and social reform. Mulji, a student at Elphinstone College in Mumbai, wrote about widow remarriage, advocated for the oppressed, and worked to bring about social reform. The Maharaj Libel Case of 1862 is considered one of the most revolutionary and notable legal battles of all time after the journalist wrote an expose on a religious leader after finding out that he had sexual relations with his female followers and exploited them. Karsandas also made shocking revelations about how the religious guru urged men to show their devotion to him by offering him their wives before getting intimate with them. Karsandas Mulji wrote this expose in his newspaper named Satyaprakash.
Internet Reacts To Junaid Khans’s Debut Film Maharaj
A user on X expressed his disappointment by urging people to #BoycottNetflix because Maharaj has a false narrative. “By referencing an incident from British rule 150 years ago, the film creates a false image of Sadhus and the Vallabh Sampradaya.
Stop defaming Hindu saints and demeaning Hindu culture. #BanMaharajFilm,” said the user.
“Junaid Khan, Yash Raj Films, and #Netflix will all be held responsible if this film tries to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus by showing that sadhus and saints are miscreants and lustful, thereby disrupting law and order #BoycottNetflix #BanMaharajFilm”, said another user on X.
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Our Take On This
Despite the fact that the movie is based on a true story, people are still being offended by the reality instead of the crimes committed against women. It’s so easy to make accusations on social media as opposed to accepting the harsh reality of our society. All of you who are offended because it’s about a religious guru, but wait, which religion says it’s okay to exploit women? He wasn’t the first religious leader who exploited women and he definitely wasn’t the last one. Over the years, we’ve come across several religious leaders and self-styled godmen who have time and again abused their power to exploit women and yet, here we are – offended by the “portrayal” of religious leaders instead of what they’re ACTUALLY doing. Why are we offended by the way religion is portrayed instead of being offended by how these religious leaders ABUSE it? Can we please shift our focus from religion to the wrongdoings that must be BOYCOTTED?
First Published: June 14, 2024 6:13 AM
