Superstar Mohanlal faces controversy over offering prayers for Muslim actor Mammootty at Sabarimala temple. Mohanlal dismisses criticism, stating it's unfair to target him and there's nothing wrong with praying for a close friend. The incident has sparked debates on religious harmony and tolerance in India. Activist Rahul Eswar supports Mohanlal's actions, calling it a model of Indian harmony.
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00:00And, superstar Mohanlal finds himself in the midst of a controversy over his visit to the
00:11sacred Sabarimala temple.
00:13Why exactly is this in the midst of a controversy?
00:16Well, in the list of names that Mohanlal had written for a special darshan and for a puja
00:21was also Mamukka's name, Mammootty's name.
00:24The other big superstar, the legend of the Malayalam film industry.
00:29Now, superstar Mohanlal writing Mammootty's name has triggered a controversy because he's
00:34been slammed for offering a Hindu puja for a Muslim, Mammootty is a Muslim.
00:38Influencers have lashed out at both Mohanlal and Mammootty.
00:43But Mohanlal has now reacted to this entire controversy dismissing it saying it's completely
00:49unfair to target me.
00:51First of all questioning how these kind of details of who he is offering puja for is
00:55even being leaked and then saying there's absolutely nothing wrong with it.
00:59Mohanlal and Mammootty, the two biggest superstars of Mollywood are also known to share a very
01:04very close almost brotherly bond.
01:25So that's the superstar's reaction there, Mohanlal dismissing the entire controversy
01:43first saying that it's a personal matter, these kind of things shouldn't be leaked in
01:46the first place and then saying that this is someone I consider as a very close friend,
01:50what's wrong with going ahead and seeking well wishes for Mammootty, for my friend.
01:56I want to bring in activist Rahul Eswar on this broadcast, Rahul Eswar do you think it's
02:00wrong that Mohanlal essentially sought a darshan and good wishes, prayers for Mammootty?
02:08Absolutely what Mohanlal should be celebrated, it's a great model of Indian harmony, Mohanlal
02:13praying for his elder brother, Mohanlal is a very proud practicing Hindu, Mammootty is
02:17a very proud practicing Muslim and they are brothers and they can celebrate that bond
02:22in a great way and please remember the context of Sabarimala too, for most of us Hindu devotees
02:26first go to a mosque, then to a church and visit Sabarimala, that is what Lord Ayyappa
02:31has taught us and we have been following it for the past thousand years.
02:35This is the greatness of Indian culture where we can be very strong in our beliefs but yet
02:40build bridges with people of all faiths and please remember there is a space for an Islamic
02:45Wawar, Ayyappa's best friend who is a Muslim inside Sabarimala premises, inside Sabarimala
02:51temple there is a Wawar Mada, that is the greatness of Indian culture and our Hindu
02:55civilizational systems where we celebrate, accept, respect every faith and people like
02:59Abdullah who are small minded, who bring territory to each kind of things is absolutely unfortunate
03:06and I hope they will be condemned and I am happy to say that Abdullah has deleted his
03:10post and 99% of our Muslim brothers have gone on an overdrive to condemn what he, so this is everything...
03:17You know that's the point, Rahul Eswar, the controversy isn't over Mohanlal offering prayers,
03:22the controversy is over Mamukha's name being there and many are saying that Mamukhi should
03:26repent for the fact that he sought in fact these wishes from a Hindu temple, from Lord Ayyappa.
03:32Absolutely, see these are small minded people who will bring their hatred to every king,
03:37and there are this kind of hardline Islamists, just like there are fanatics in every group,
03:41every religion has a great percentage of moderates and every religion has fanatics, which over
03:46the line such a kind of fanatic who is showing intolerance to people of other faith even
03:52praying and please remember it's my Muslim friend who is going to Hajj, I will happily
03:56tell him please do pray for me or in Christmas or something they will pray for us and you
04:00may remember it was Pope Francis from Vatican who went to Burma and prayed for the Rohingyas
04:05along with the Buddhist Vinay Lama.
04:07This is the great cultural legacy of the world of pluralism, harmony, coming together, secularism,
04:12you can call it anything.
04:13This harmony is what world needs and Mamukhi and Mohanlal has shown the right way and Mohanlal
04:18has engulfed Mamukhi's star sign, his real name Mohamuduguti and offered prayers in Sabarimala
04:23which should be celebrated as a great example of communal harmony, pluralism and brotherhood.
04:28Okay, Rahul Eswar, thank you very much for joining us on this broadcast.
04:32So that receipt which Mohanlal had put forth at Sabarimala temple, in most South Indian
04:35temples you give out the name of someone that you are offering prayers for, for their good
04:40health, for in fact a long life, for their prosperity, so you write their name as well
04:44as their star and you hand it over for a special puja to be conducted in their name.
04:49Mohanlal had a list of such names including that of Mamukhi which has led to this needless
04:55controversy.
04:56Before we bring in Shibimol who is reporting for us on that story, I want you to listen
05:00once again to what Mohanlal said.
05:30It's all right, it's nothing wrong.
05:33Okay, so that's Mohanlal clarifying, saying there's absolutely nothing wrong and defending
05:38his right to offer puja and ensure also that puja is offered for his closest friends.
05:43Mohanlal and Mamukhi are known to share a very, very close brotherly bond.
05:46Shibimol is joining us with more details on this.
05:49Shibi, just break down for us where this controversy even stemmed from.
05:53Why is this even a controversy?
05:56Akshika, firstly Mohanlal's reply has come in the background of a rumour that's going
06:01around here.
06:02So basically there's a rumour that actor superstar Mamukhi is suffering from a serious
06:06health issue.
06:07And Mohanlal had visited the temple around that same time because ahead of this, you
06:12know, major, major film release, that's the air release of Enzuran scheduled tomorrow.
06:17And that's where after the visit, a receipt from the temple had leaked which showed that
06:21Mohanlal had offered prayers for Mamukhi and giving his original name and the word
06:26star there.
06:27And he offered a puja, which strengthened the rumour that, you know, Mamukhi is actually
06:31suffering from a serious health issue.
06:33And Mohanlal was actually responding to that saying that, you know, whatever, praying for
06:39someone is a personal right.
06:40And we share a very close bond.
06:42He's like my elder brother.
06:43And he did have a small health issue, but nothing major.
06:46He's keeping fine is what Mohanlal had said.
06:48But following and in fact, the act was hailed by a lot of people on social media, speaking
06:54about their bond and, you know, also about the religious harmony.
06:57They have been the biggest superstar of our industry for the longest time.
07:01And the kind of connection, in fact, they always consult each other before taking any
07:05major decisions also.
07:06So that bond was hailed one more time on social media and everywhere.
07:10But yesterday, one of the, one influencer, a former journalist, you know, came out with
07:15this comment that Mamukhi being a Muslim, if Mohanlal had offered this puja with the
07:20knowledge of Mamukhi, then he should apologize to the Muslim community and should offer
07:25tawbah and, you know, repent for the sins that he has committed is what he said.
07:29And that post has been deleted right now, but he's been sharply criticized by everybody.
07:34So he's deleted that post in the face of criticism for the kind of comments and lowly
07:39comments, honestly, for what he said about Mohanlal and Mamukhi.
07:43Thanks, Shubeh, for those details.