Mumbai: The Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have objected to certain “anti-Marathi language” comments by a contestant on reality show Bigg Boss, and have threatened to stop the filming of the programme.
The parties’ open missive asking the channel Colors to apologise prompted Viacom18 Media Private Limited to immediately write to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, tendering an apology and promising to remove the objectionable comments from all future broadcasts of the show. The reality show is aired on channel Colors owned by Viacom18 Media.
The television network Wednesday sent an email to the Chief Minister’s Office saying it has received objections regarding the reference to the Marathi language during the episode broadcast on Wednesday on its channel Colors.
“We have taken note of these objections and have taken corrective measures of removing the said part from all future broadcasts of the episode. We hereby apologise if we have inadvertently hurt the feelings of the people of Maharashtra due to the broadcast of the said comment in relation to Marathi language,” Viacom18’s email to CM Thackeray said.
“We value the audience and the patronage of the Marathi speaking audience and respect all languages of India in the same manner,” it added.
#BiggBoss #BiggBoss14 #BB14 pic.twitter.com/A8o34pz9p6
— COLORS (@ColorsTV) October 28, 2020
Shiv Sena, MNS threaten to stop filming
In Tuesday’s episode of Bigg Boss, singer Kumar Sanu’s son, Jaan Kumar Sanu, reportedly told a fellow contestant to not speak in Marathi in front of him, saying he gets irritated with the language. He told his co-actor that she should speak in Hindi if she has the courage.
Aadesh Bandekar, Shiv Sena secretary and the head of the party’s film wing, tweeted, “The management of Bigg Boss and this person (Jaan Kumar Sanu) should immediately apologise to Maharashtra and the Marathi people. This person should be expelled (from the show) immediately and the Maharashtra government should withdraw shooting permissions of those who defame the state.”
बिग बॉस च्या व्यवस्थापनाने व ह्या व्यक्ती ने महाराष्ट्राची व मराठी जनतेची त्वरित माफी मागावी ज्यानी हे कृत्य केले त्याची तातडीने हकालपट्टी करावी… अशी बदनामी करणाऱ्यांची चित्रीकरण परवानगी महाराष्ट्र शासनाने रद्द करावी… शिवसेना चित्रपट सेना
— Adesh Bandekar – आदेश बांदेकर (@aadeshbandekar) October 28, 2020
Amey Khopkar, who heads the MNS’ film union, said in a statement the party would not let the show shoot in Maharashtra if Sanu and the network did not apologise within 24 hours. “If you want to live in Mumbai, you will have to respect the Marathi language. If you don’t know Marathi in Mumbai, you should leave. And after this, we will see how Jaan Sanu gets any work in Mumbai,” he said.
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