A complaint has been filed in Coimbatore against singer ‘Gaana’ Isaivani and director Pa Ranjith for performing a song deemed disrespectful to Hindu God Ayyappan during an event hosted by the Neelam Cultural Center.
At an event hosted by Pa. Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural Centre in 2020, Isai Vani sang a song targeting Lord Ayyappa and questioning the faith of Ayyappan devotees, with the line, “I am sorry Ayyappa” instigating women to enter the temple of the celibate Hindu god.
The lyrics of song goes like this:
I’m sorry Ayyappa
What’s wrong if I enter pa?
This is not the age old times to restrain us by terrorising
I am the granddaughter of the beard man (referring to EV Ramasamy Naicker hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers)
Times have changed now
If you keep us away saying ‘theetu’ (untouchable)
I’ll progress like a ‘mass’
Whether it is jeans pant or saree, I’ll decide
Whether nurse or doctor, I’ll tell for myself after I grow up
Whether I’m single or committed, it’s my decision
I’ve the courage to hit back
Whether Sports or Dappankutthu, I’ll handle it if you let me free
If you extend a dupatta, shall I spit on your rituals?
I’m sorry Ayyappa
What’s wrong if I enter pa?
What’s this new confusion?
What if we enter breaking the barriers?
If you don’t give the rights, we’ll snatch it
If we don’t snatch it, we’ll lose it
The sky is near
If we study, everything is in our pocket
What’s the secret in birth?
If they don’t open the doors, we should break it open
Should she stand feeling shy? Should she keep bindi?
Should I get trapped at the hands of a monkey after studying hard?
My life is for me, why are you sad?
Why should I give my freedom to someone else?
I should choose my life partner myself
There’s self-respect, why should I be worried?
I’m sorry Ayyappa
What’s wrong if I enter pa?
This is not the age old times to restrain us by terrorising
As the song circulated online, outrage grew among netizens calling for action against the singer and Pa Ranjith for disrespecting Hindu god Ayyappan and Ayyappa devotees.
Critics highlighted the disparity in how the authorities handled similar incidents, referencing actress Kasthuri Shankar’s arrest for her remarks in Hyderabad. They demanded to know if Isai Vani would face similar consequences for insulting not only Hindu gods but also the devotees observing a 48-day fast known as Vratha.
In response to the situation, a formal complaint has been lodged at the Mettupalayam police station against Isai Vani and director Pa Ranjith. The complaint, filed by Ayyappa devotees, accuses them of belittling the Hindu god and undermining traditional worship practices, as well as targeting the Neelam Cultural Center for organizing the event.
இயக்குநர் பா.ரஞ்சித், கானா இசைவாணி மீது அனைத்து ஐயப்ப பக்தர்கள் சங்கத்தினர் புகார்… காரணம்?#PaRanjith | #Isaivani | #Complaint | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/atjVwQIOIa
— Polimer News (@polimernews) November 23, 2024
It is noteworthy that the same Isaivani has also sung in praise of Jesus Christ several times.
Here is another song titled “Yesuvai Ni Vittu Pogadhe” which literally translates to “do not leave Jesus” was also sung by her. The songs literally preach the listener to not go in the “wrong path” insinuating other religions as “Satan’s path”.
Isaivani was also contestant in Bigg Boss Tamil Season 5. She was also featured on the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) ‘100 Women 2020’.
Pa. Ranjith is a rabid anti-Hindu Dravidianist filmmaker who had shot to fame using Rajinikanth by directing films like Kabali and Kaala. In Kaala, he subtly weaves anti-Hindu sentiments, portraying Hinduism and its symbols as inherently oppressive. The movie’s villains are given distinctly Hindu names, reinforcing negative stereotypes associated with the religion. In his recent flop film Thangalaan, he pedled the usual Dravidianist stereotyping of Brahmins as vile and cunning, de-Hindufying village deities, references to the Varna system, Vishnu, Buddha, Saint Ramanuja, Christianity, and Islamist tyrant Tipu Sultan. In the film Attakathi, he even had dialogues that positioned pre-marital sex as a sort of achievement.
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