Astro Audio has suspended three Era FM radio hosts following backlash over a video in which they appeared to mock the Thaipusam kavadi ritual, a sacred Hindu practice. Two other staff members have also been suspended as the company conducts an internal investigation.
The video, which aired on Era FM’s social media platforms, showed the hosts of the 3 Pagi Era breakfast show—Nabil Ahmad, Azad Jazmin John Louis Jeffri, and Radin Amir Effendi—laughing while chanting “Vel Vel,” a phrase used by devotees during Thaipusam. Azad was seen mimicking the way devotees enter a trance while carrying a kavadi, a sacred offering to Lord Muruga. The video was widely condemned as disrespectful, leading to public outrage.
Astro Audio, in a statement, expressed deep regret over the incident, acknowledging the distress caused. The company reaffirmed its commitment to adhering to content guidelines and regulations. It also confirmed that its CEO and senior management had met with officials from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to discuss the matter.
Following public backlash, the three radio hosts issued a video apology, admitting their mistake and acknowledging the insensitivity of their actions. “Our antics have hurt the feelings of some parties and our Indian friends,” said Nabil. “We will ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” added Radin. Azad also emphasized their openness to feedback, saying, “We deeply apologise for our mistake, which we did unknowingly.”
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Netizens called this apology “insincere” and called for stricter action.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil directed MCMC to summon Astro and Era FM’s management for an explanation, stating that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine appropriate action under existing regulations.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo also condemned the video, calling it “highly offensive and deeply concerning.” He urged Astro Radio to take swift action against those responsible, emphasizing that “any form of mockery or disrespect towards religious practices is unacceptable.”
Former Penang deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy has called for a police investigation into the incident, arguing that it falls under 3R (race, religion, and royalty) offences. He stated that an apology alone was insufficient and announced that his organization, Urimai, would file police reports in multiple states—including Penang, Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor—to ensure accountability.
The controversial video has since been removed from Era FM’s platforms, but the backlash continues, with authorities and community leaders pushing for concrete measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
How DMK Reacted When Karuppar Kootam Derogated Lord Murugan
To jog our readers’ memories, let’s go back a few years into the past. A YouTube channel named Karuppar Kootam made a sensational entry into everybody’s minds – how you ask – by derogating and speaking lies and filth about Hindu prayer dedicated to Lord Murugan, the Kanda Shashti Kavacham.
Karuppar Kootam, a YouTube channel run by ‘Periyarists’ with links to the DMK set off a storm by abusing Kandha Sashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to the Hindu God Murugan, the DMK has been feeling the heat for its anti-Hindu politics that it had been doing since its inception.
While the party and its leaders had tried to distance themselves from the rabid YouTube channel, evidences clearly show that senior leaders belonging to the DMK were in bed with the nefarious elements all along. Even if they deny their links now, it must be noted that both the DMK and the Karuppar Koottam subscribe to the same school of thought, the one that idolizes the anti-Hindu bigot E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (known as ‘Periyar’ by his followers).
For the uninitiated, here is some context. Karuppar Koottam was a YouTube channel run by a group of ‘Periyarists’, Communist ideologues and DMK sympathizers. They had indulged in targeted attacks against Hindus posting videos abusing Hindu Gods, Hindus and Brahmins for a long time under the garb of ‘rationalism’.
In the series titled “Aabasa Puranam” (Porn Puranam), members of the Karuppar Kootam had used vulgar language against Hindu Gods like Murugan, Saraswathi, Brahma, etc.
In one of the videos, they abused Lord Murugan revered in Tamil Nadu as the Tamil God, by making derogatory references to Kandhasashti Kavasam, a hymn dedicated to Lord Muruga that echoes in every Hindu’s home and temples in Tamil Nadu.
The videos have been removed from the channel following public outrage.
On 15 July 2020, one Senthilvasan Muthusamy was arrested by the Central Crime Branch after cases were registered from different quarters for their vile and abusive video on Hindu God Murugan.
Surendar Natarajan of Karuppar Koottam had surrendered at the Ariyankuppam police station in Puducherry on 16 July that year and was charged under the Goondas Act.
It is noteworthy that Surendar Natarajan, the host of the show ‘Aabasa Puranam’ can be seen on top a campaign vehicle holding a mic and canvassing votes for the DMK.
Namesake Arrest & Set Free Thanks To His ‘Connections’
Surendar Natarajan, alias ‘Naathigan’ of the Karuppar Koottam YouTube channel, was released from jail after DMK’s rise to power. He was jailed for eight months for posting derogatory content against Hindu gods, including a video mocking the devotional hymn ‘Kandha Sashti Kavasam.’ In an interview, Naathigan defended his actions and vowed to continue speaking against Hindu beliefs. Allegations persist that Karuppar Koottam enjoyed DMK’s patronage, with evidence showing Naathigan campaigned for DMK in the 2019 elections (as above)
In February 2021, the Madras High Court quashed the Goondas Act charges against Karuppar Koottam members Surendar Natarajan and Senthilvasan, citing a delay in issuing the arrest warrant. Surendar was arrested for derogatory videos against Hindu gods, while Senthilvasan was detained by the Central Crime Branch. Surendar’s wife, Krithika, petitioned against his detention, arguing it violated free speech and was politically motivated. The court rejected the Crime Branch’s argument that multiple cases were not required for the Goondas Act.
DMK, The Real Karuppar Koottam
When the controversy took the state by storm, the DMK sensing the public ire stated that they had nothing to do with Karuppar Koottam. Tiruchirapalli West DMK MLA K.N. Nehru had in a statement denied any connection between the party and Karuppar Koottam and blamed certain ‘politically ignorant’ people for carrying out a false propaganda. On July 18, during a press meet, DMK Rajya Sabha MP RS Bharathi said that the DMK was no way linked to the rabid Youtube channel. He added that a false campaign was being done and also condemned denigration of Lord Murugan. He went on to recall Anna’s slogan of “Ondre Kulam Oruvane Devan” (One Community, One God).
However, pictures which emerged during the controversy clearly establishes the close relationship shared by Karuppar Koottam and the DMK. In fact, it had led to questions if whether the DMK IT wing was behind the channel itself.
Palanivel Thiagarajan DMK MLA from Madurai Central constituency and the head of DMK’s IT wing can be seen having a luncheon with some of the members of the Karuppar Koottam. This picture was uploaded in social media on 29th April 2019, ten days after the 2019 Lok Sabha General Elections in Tamil Nadu by none other than arrested member of the Karuppar Koottam gang Senthilvasan Muthusamy.
A state which calls itself the land of “Tamil God” Murugan and a party which claims to be the guardian of this same Tamil was unable to take any action against the very same people who derogated the deity. However, when one looks at a Muslim country such as Malaysia, even such derogations are strictly handled.
Even today, the channel Karuppar Kootam continues to exist although the content seems to have disappeared just to erase it from public memory.
(With inputs from Free Malaysia Today)
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