Before Leela Manimekalai’s Kaali, Seven Film Posters That Faced Major Backlash

Kaali Poster Row: Canada’s Aga Khan Museum, in a statement, conveyed that it has cancelled shows of Leena Manimekalai’s Kaali after a poster of the film showing the goddess smoking sparked controversy online. The High Commission of India in Ottawa had said that it had received complaints from leaders of the Hindu community in Canada about the disrespectful depiction of Hindu Gods on the poster of the film showcased as part of the 'Under the Tent' project at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto.

The filmmaker has been accused of deliberately hurting religious sentiments with the disrespectful portrayal of the Hindu deity Kaali. The row erupted after Manimekalai had shared the poster of her documentary Kaali on Twitter, which showed the goddess smoking and holding an LGBTQ flag in her hand. FIRs have been filed against Leena Manimekalai, by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Police.

However, this is not the first time political turmoil has erupted over film posters. et’s take a look at some of the other film posters that received backlash.

PK

A lawyer in Kanpur moved court against the lead actor Aamir Khan over the film's 'obscene.' Khan defended nudity on the PK poster saying that it’s not for publicity. He said it depicted the story of the film. The poster featured Khan posing nude with a strategically placed boombox hiding his modesty. However, the poster was later approved by a government panel.

Mission Mangal

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Mission Mangal courted controversy for giving Akshay Kumar a bigger display than his women colleagues. The film featured five-female actors in the lead but offered Kumar more space than the rest. Despite the flak, Kumar reassured viewers that "this film belongs to these ladies and it will always belong to them.”

Jism 2

While Jism 2 marked the Bollywood debut of Sunny Leone, the first look of the movie poster stunned the audience. The poster of the film depicting a naked lady covered with a flimsy white sheet was subject to multiple controversies, and the makers had to face the wrath of a few political leaders as well.

Laxmmi  

Akshay Kumar's Laxmmi Bomb was renamed Laxmmi after facing objections from several Hindu groups. It faced flak for associating a derogatory term like bomb with a Hindu goddess and ‘hurting religious sentiments’.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Salman Khan

When the poster of Salman Khan’s movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan was released in 2015, groups Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal demanded that the title of the film be changed, and also filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh high court. However, the high court dismissed the petition and the movie went on to become one of the hits of the year.

Suggested Reading: Criminal Conspiracy Case Against Leena Manimekalai Over Her Film Poster Kaali: All About The Case

The Dirty Picture

Vidya Balan's critically acclaimed The Dirty Picture was at the brunt of major backlash for its songs, and storyline.  The lead character Silk and her relationship with three men was quite evident in its poster. Reportedly, a petitioner from Andhra Pradesh requested the police to book Balan under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Kurbaan

Kareena Kapoor Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kurbaan was embroiled in controversy when a political party of Maharashtra objected to the movie's poster that showed Kareena’s back.

Kareena later in an interview clarified that her backless posture shot spoke about the film's theme. "There is love, passion and violence - all combined in here and what better way than to show it through a single still? You too would agree that there is nothing sleazy or vulgar about it," the actor added.