Why Netflix is facing backlash in India over show A Suitable Boy

Netflix is facing major backlash in India over a kissing scene in the show A Suitable Boy, reports CNN. And right now, the controversy seems to be heating up, rather than slowing down. How unfortunate. If you’re unfamiliar with the BBC drama miniseries that was distributed on Netflix, here’s the premise.

What is A Suitable Boy about?

This period series is the first screen adaptation of Vikram Seth’s award-winning novel, published back in 1993. As noted in Good Housekeeping, A Suitable Boy tells the coming-of-age story of Lata, a young Hindu woman and university student in North India in 1951.

At the time the story takes place, India is “carving out its own identity as an independent nation and is about to go to the polls for its first democratic general election.”

All along the way, the headstrong young woman’s mother is dead-set on finding her daughter a husband, a.k.a. a suitable boy. As the densely layered story unfolds, we learn that Lata might want different things for her life. And when it comes to love, she’s not sure exactly what she wants just yet. In turn, she finds herself with some very important, and somewhat timely, decisions to make.

A Suitable Boy is a tale of self-discovery, familial ties, traditions in India, searching for love, and how ultimately, all parts of Lata’s life and identity, past and present, must collide while she decides her right path.

A Suitable Boy controversy

While the lead is on her road to self-discovery, she meets a number of suitors, some arguably better than others. At one point in the drama series, Lata is shown being kissed by a Muslim man at a Hindu temple. Needless to say, not everyone in India watching was happy about what they witnessed.

As CNN reports, the onscreen kiss has proven to be notably controversial for some viewers in India, including Hindu nationalist politicians. Reportedly, the hashtag “BoycottNetflix” began trending on Twitter in India shortly after people started talking about the episode.

If that’s not serious enough, Indian politician Narottam Mishra tweeted that he “asked the police to examine this controversial content.” You can see the tweet here.

So what’s next?

Reportedly, there have been various official complaints filed about the “controversial content,” including one serious allegation which accused Netflix of committing “deliberate or malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings,” which is a major accusation under Indian Law, even punishable by prison time.

Though A Suitable Boy premiered back in June on BBC One, it was distributed exclusively by Netflix in October (except for in North America and China). Now that Netflix users in India are watching the series, they’re not happy.