Abu Dhabi: The Indian Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday a petition filed by Priya Prakash Varrier, who became India’s national crush with her appearance in the teaser song 'Mani Manikya Malaraya Poovi' from film "Oru Adaar Love" (A Superb Love Story).
She and her team approached the Indian Supreme Court on Monday to quash police cases filed against them.
The song, in which Varrier’s wink became an internet sensation, has been shared by millions on social media.
As Gulf News reported on Monday the writ petition filed by Varrier along with director Omer Lulu and producer of the film has requested the top court to quash the first information report [FIR] filed against them in Telengana and issue appropriate orders to restrain other states from registering FIRs in the same matter.
"The chief justice agreed to my request for an urgent hearing of the petition and it has been posted for tomorrow," Varrier's lawyer told Gulf News on Tuesday from New Delhi on phone.
“We will come to know about the time and bench to hear the petition by today [Tuesday] evening," said Haris Beeran, an advocate at the Supreme Court.
Varrier and filmmakers approached the top court following the reports about the Hyderabad police issuing a notice to them.
The Hyderabad Police on Wednesday registered a case on a complaint that the lyrics of the song had allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Hyderabad police have sought explanation from Omar Lulu about alleged objectionable lyrics in a notice that was sent by post on Saturday, Times of India reported on Monday.
The notice was served by the Falaknuma police as a case was registered on February 14 based on a complainant from some local residents. They alleged that the lyrics of the song ‘Manikya Malarayi Poovi’ had reference to the life of the Prophet. The complainants demanded that either the lyrics should be rewritten or the song be withdrawn from the film.
The advocate said some people registered complaints against Varrier and her team in Maharashtra, which may lead to police filing more FIRs in the same matter.
“Since the criminal complaints are being filed in different states across the country, no useful and fruitful purpose would be served in approaching the respective High Courts [in each state],” the petition says.
“That’s why the petitioner approached the Supreme Court,” the lawyer said.
Varrier and film makers explain in the petition that “Manikya Malaraya Poovi” is a Mappila Song, or a traditional Muslim Song from the Malabar region of Kerala. The song describes and praises the love between the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his first wife Khadeeja.
They further explain that the song is originally from an old folk song from Kerala which was written in 1978 by PMA Jabbar and was first sung by Thalassery Rafeeq. The claims that it hurts the religious sentiments of the Muslim Community are without any basis, the petition says.
“What is hard to fathom is that a song which has been in existence for the past 40 years, which was written, sung and cherished by the Muslim Community in Kerala is now being treated as an insult to the Prophet and his wife,” they said.
A song that has existed for more than 40 years and has been cherished by more than 10 million Muslims of Kerala cannot suddenly offend the religious sentiment of the Muslim Community, the petition said.
