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On Tuesday, the university responsible for planning the project and the museum that provided the platform issued a statement of apology after a film with a poster drew an attack from a Hindu group in Canada, sparking an uproar. On the other hand, York University, where the film director attended, supports her artistic freedom.
The film Kaali, produced by Leena Manimekalai, was screened at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto as part of Under the Tent, a multimedia storytelling project organized by the Centre for Immigration and Integration at Toronto City University.
The Hindu community wrote a letter of complaint to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday over a poster depicting the goddess Kali smoking.
“We regret that something in our speech under the tent on Saturday, July 2 [offence] We are taking steps to address this,” the university said in a post on a page promoting the campaign.
“We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion while respecting the diversity of beliefs and perspectives in our society. We acknowledge the need to sensitively explore and examine complex topics,” it said.
A spokesman for the university also said its logo was used on the controversial poster “without permission”.
Responding to the Hindustan Times, she said the university “doesn’t approve the posters used by York University students to promote the film”.
The Aga Khan Museum also issued an apology, saying it “deeply regrets that one of the 18 videos ‘under the tent’ and its accompanying social media post inadvertently offended members of Hindus and other faith communities”.
It said the university’s presentation of the project was hosted by the museum as part of its mission to “promote intercultural understanding and dialogue through the arts”. Respect for diverse religious expressions and belief communities is an integral part of this mission.”
Manimekalai, a film student, said: “Students have the right to display their own intellectual property, and the university supports our students’ artistic autonomy in the field of film. [endeavour] Create art that provokes thought-provoking discourse. York has reached out to our film students to provide support and advice if needed.”
However, a spokesperson told the Hindustan Times, “We understand that the subject discussed involves the deep-rooted beliefs of many Hindus around the world”.
Artists and those who oppose art have a right to have a voice, he said, “as long as the conversation does not support threats, harassment or hatred. Allowing discussion on controversial topics is critical.”
The Indian High Commission in Ottawa expressed dissatisfaction with the image. In a statement issued Monday, it said, “We urge Canadian authorities and event organizers to withdraw all such provocative material.”
In a letter to Trudeau, Hindu Volunteers Canada said the film “deliberately presents the Hindu goddess in a derogatory way.”
Meanwhile, the filmmaker countered criticism that the description was derogatory. In an interview with the BBC’s Tamil Network, she said that if the people who raved about the poster had actually seen the film, they “may change their minds”.
“I have nothing to lose. As long as I am alive, I am willing to fearlessly say what I believe,” she said.
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