Kamala Das’ Biopic ‘Aami’ Promotes Love Jihad, Claims Petition In Kerala HC [Read Petition]

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court of Kerala against the film Aami, which is reported to be based on the life of renowned author and poetess Madhavikutty, well known as Kamala Das. The petition has been filed by KP Ramachandran, a lawyer practising at the high court. The petition alleges that the film has been made by distorting the life of Madhavikutty.

Madhavikutty, who used to write in English as well under the name ‘Kamala Das’, had converted to Islam later in life, adopting the name Kamala Surayya. According to the petitioner, the conversion of Madhavikutty to Islam was result of ‘love jihad’.

The petitioner claimed that “he wishes to see that Hinduism is maintained and sustained in India with its full vigour and comprehensiveness” and that he gets deeply pained whenever he comes across the illegal, unlawful and forceful conversion of Hindus to Islam by radical forces. According to him, the conversion of Madhavikutty to Islam was the “beginning of Love Jihad in Kerala”.

He alleged that the director of the film, Kamal, belongs to radical faction of Islam, and the film is an attempt to justify the act of ‘Love Jihad’. The petitioner relies on excerpts from the biography of Madhavikutty, The Love Queen of Malabar, written by Merrily Weisbord, to project that Madhavikutty had lost faith in Islam. Reliance is also placed on an article written by Leela Menon to state that she was seduced into converting to Islam.

The petitioner contended that the film does not depict true facts and hence it infringes his rights as a Hindu. It is also stated that exhibiting the film could lead to communal clashes and disruption of law and order. Further, he apprehended that the film will inject wrong ideas in the minds of society.

Therefore, the petition seeks to restrain the Central Board of Film Certification from issuing certification to the film. The film is slated to be released on 09.02.2018.

While considering the matter for admission, the court sought for the responses of the respondents in the matter.

Recently, the Supreme Court had dismissed similar petitions filed seeking to stall the release of film Padmaavat, upholding creative liberties.