Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board member and BJP state spokesperson G. Bhanuprakash Reddy has slapped a legal notice on Tamil film actor N. Santhanam, alleging that a song in his upcoming film titled ‘DD Next Level’ contains lyrics that offend the sentiments of Hindus.
“The song in question, “Kissa 47,” presented in a rap style, has the lyrics, “Srinivasa Govinda… Govinda Hari Govinda” (referring to Lord Venkateswara). The protagonist of the film uses the word ‘Govinda’ in a derogatory manner, said Mr. Bhanuprakash. The video of the song is already circulating on YouTube and other social media platforms.
Mr. Bhanuprakash, through advocate and BJP leader K. Ajay Kumar, has issued a legal notice to Mr. Santhanam and Hyderabad-based Niharika Entertainments. The notice accuses them of ‘hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community at large.’
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Mr. Bhanuprakash expressed deep concern over the deliberate use of the Lord’s name in an offensive manner. “Sanathana Dharma has become an easy target in the entertainment field. Will actors create such content and videos if it involves hurting the sentiments of other faiths?” he questioned.
The legal notice demands an unconditional apology from the actor and the immediate withdrawal of the song from the film and all public platforms. It warns of a ₹100 crore payout towards damages for remixing a much-revered devotional song if not removed.
Mr. Bhanuprakash further said that the complaint would be escalated to the Censor Board at New Delhi for initiating necessary action. Meanwhile, the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit has already filed police complaints at various places.
Published – May 14, 2025 06:41 pm IST