Director to stick with controversial love song

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a dramatic turn of events, director Omar Lulu has decided to stick with the latest popular love song, 'Mani Manikya Malaraya poovi, from his film, Oru Adaar Love, on Wednesday evening, minutes after a section of the media claimed that he had decided to drop it in the wake of the Hyderabad police registering a case, alleging that its lyrics hurt religious sentiments “as it profaned the life of the Prophet”.   

The police case was based on the complaint filed by Mohammed Abdul Muqeeth Khan and some other Muslim youths.  Hit song-maker Shaan Rahman, who composed the song, told reporters late in the evening that they would not withdraw the song. Oman Lulu and music composer Ouseppachan were also present when Shaan announced the decision to retain the song despite media onslaughts by fringe Muslim elements.

The song, gone viral on social media through debutant actor Priya Varrier’s famous wink at the hero in the movie, was initially planned to be pulled out of YouTube and other digital platforms in defernce to “religious sentiments”.  The film release has been postponed by one month to be redone with a new script and possibly casting Priya in the lead role.    

Priya, a first year undergrad student at an arts and science college in Thrissur, became an overnight sensation as the song crossed 10 million hits on the internet and the actor got more than 3 million followers on Instagram, beating Salman Dulquer with 1.9 million followers.