Leena Manimekalai is a Madurai-born, Toronto-based filmmaker, who has landed in a bitter controversy over the poster of her upcoming documentary movie showing Goddess Kaali as a smoking woman. The controversy erupted after she took to Twitter to share a poster of her movie which depicted a woman dressed in costumes portraying the Goddess Kaali and smoking. A flag of the LGBT community can also be seen in the background.
Super thrilled to share the launch of my recent film – today at @AgaKhanMuseum as part of its “Rhythms of Canada”
Link: https://t.co/RAQimMt7LnI made this performance doc as a cohort of https://t.co/D5ywx1Y7Wu@YorkuAMPD @TorontoMet @YorkUFGS
Feeling pumped with my CREW❤️ pic.twitter.com/L8LDDnctC9
— லீனா மணிமேகலை (@LeenaManimekali) July 2, 2022
The portrayal of Goddess kali in the poster didn’t go down well with a section of social media users who demanded the poster be withdrawn. Some even demanded strict action against her and the hashtag #ArrestLeenaManimekal has been trending since then on Twitter.
A police complaint has also been lodged against the filmmaker for her wrong portrayal of Goddess Kaali allegedly hurting the Hindu sentiments.
A complaint was filed with Amrutha Guhuloth, DC of Delhi District Police. The complainants demanded punishment against Leena by taking strict action under strict sections of the law, including Section 79 of IT Act 2000, Section 295A of IPC, and Prohibition of Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986.
Who is Leena Manimekalai?
Leena Manimekalai is a Madurai-born, Toronto-based Indian filmmaker, actor, and poet. Her works include five published poetry anthologies, and a dozen movies in genres, including fiction, documentary, and experimental poem films.
Leena hailing from the Srivilliputtur region finished her secondary school in 1995 at the Holy Cross Convent. She pursued her education at Madurai Kamarajar University, Tamil Nadu. In 2005, she completed an EU Fellowship in Media & Conflict Resolution. She also completed a PSBT Fil Fellowship on Tamil Women Poetry and a Commonwealth Fellowship on Women in Film in 2008. She graduated from The School of Oriental and African Studies with a degree in visual ethnography in the year 2012.
Leena Manimekalai currently lives in Canada. She is also the owner of Leena Manimekalai Productions. She has directed several documentaries and her notable works include Parai, Mathamma, Love Lost, Breaking The Shackles, Sengadal, Song of Resistance, Goddesses, My Mirror is the Door, and A Hole in the Bucke to name a few.
She has received awards including the Independent Diaspora Festivals in Paris and in Norway (2005), Silver Trophy for Best Documentary at the Europe Film Festival (2004), and the Golden Conch at the Mumbai International Film Festival (2008), and others.
