Salman Khan’s upcoming Dabangg 3 stoked a controversy on social media over a scene from the song ‘Hud Hud Dabang’ that shows Hindu holy men (Sadhu baba) grooving to the beats with guitars in hand.
The disgruntled social media users complained that the scene from the movie hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. Words like ‘malign’ and ‘insult’ the Hindu culture were used on social media to express furor on social media. The inflamed reactions triggered the demand to boycott the movie.
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A Bengaluru-based NGO, Hindu Janajagritu Smriti, even called the censor board to revoke its censor certificate.
“#BoycottDabangg3, seated atop on Twitter since Friday. People under the hashtag trend unleashed criticism on the actor and his team. It is pertinent to mention that the Dabangg installments have been produced under the actor’s production banner ‘Salman Khan Production’.
HJS demands Censor Board to refuse Certification to film ‘Dabangg 3’
song titled ‘Hud Hud Dabangg’ It is shown in the song that many Sages and saints are dancing with guitar in their hands.This is nothing but a mockery of Sages& Hindu culture#BoycottDabangg3 pic.twitter.com/krYUwVUjOH— CHETHANA PRABHU (@Ravalanath) November 29, 2019
Comments like, “Bollywood is doing all such miserable things for fame and money. They are not bothered about our religious sentiments. We have to make them think about this. Strong demand #BoycottDabangg3” dominated the Indian Twitter.
Another user asserted that Hinduism owes a lot to these sages who have blessed them useful innovations that the whole world is following now. ‘Insulating such great Sadhus is insulting our culture!! #BoycottDabangg3,’ added the user.
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The antagonistic social media campaign was challenged with a pro-Dabangg campaign named ‘Awaiting Dabangg’ which was used by 1.3 lakh times by Salman Khan’s fans on social media.
Perhaps, the hue and cry on the song is the depiction of the surge in religious extremism in India. The hardcore advocates of Hindu extremists-Hindutva have pressed hard for the ban on the movie that did not substantiate, though but spoke of the extremist mindset sweeping the country.
#BoycottDabangg3
A new conspiracy to degrade Hindutva by insulting sage saints and Hindu goddesses through Dabangg 3
We all boycott such a film and request all Hindus that you all boycott this film and show your devotion.— Anand (@Anand26703903) November 29, 2019
Dabangg 3 is the third installment of the popular Dabangg franchise. The film stars, Salman Khan, as cop Chulbul Pandey, Sonakshi Sinha-Khan’s wife. The film also introduced Mahesh Manjrekar’s daughter, Saie Manjrekar.