Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian state energy firm Petronas has pulled a YouTube music video it posted to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali after angry viewers pointed out that it depicted an inappropriate funeral dance.
Race and religion are sensitive issues in Malaysia which experienced deadly racial riots in 1969, and critics complained that the video failed to depict the true meaning of the festival of lights, which commemorates the triumph of good over evil.
The three-minute video advertisement on its YouTube page featured at least 14 dancers in colourful clothing doing the "Dappan Koothu" an energetic dance routine popular in South Indian Tamil movies.
Critics complained that the peppy music-cum-dance video was irrelevant to Diwali celebrations because it depicted a dance sometimes performed before a funeral procession.
The video clip titled "Do the Dappan" was part of Petronas' campaign for Diwali, which the minority Indian community celebrates next week in this Muslim majority Southeast Asian country.
Petronas said its intention was to help promote unity in the multiethnic society.
"After considering the varied feedback received from viewers on our 'Do the Dappan' video clip ... Petronas has decided to discontinue the video from its official YouTube page," it said in a statement late Thursday.
R.S. Mohan Shan, president of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam organisation, welcomed Petronas' decision, saying street dancing was not part of Hindu culture and the "Dappan Koothu" was performed during funeral processions.
"Dappan Koothu is purely entertainment in nature and it is only fit for the cinemas. Street dancing and causing traffic jams as shown in the video is not Hindu culture," he told AFP Friday.
Race and religion are sensitive issues in Malaysia which experienced deadly racial riots in 1969, and critics complained that the video failed to depict the true meaning of the festival of lights, which commemorates the triumph of good over evil.
The three-minute video advertisement on its YouTube page featured at least 14 dancers in colourful clothing doing the "Dappan Koothu" an energetic dance routine popular in South Indian Tamil movies.
The video clip titled "Do the Dappan" was part of Petronas' campaign for Diwali, which the minority Indian community celebrates next week in this Muslim majority Southeast Asian country.
Advertisement
"After considering the varied feedback received from viewers on our 'Do the Dappan' video clip ... Petronas has decided to discontinue the video from its official YouTube page," it said in a statement late Thursday.
Advertisement
"Dappan Koothu is purely entertainment in nature and it is only fit for the cinemas. Street dancing and causing traffic jams as shown in the video is not Hindu culture," he told AFP Friday.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Apple Claims OpenELM Does Not Power Apple Intelligence Following YouTube Video Data Controversy: Report BITS Pilani Dropout, 22, Claims He Earned Rs 35 Lakh Last Month, Ashneer Grover's Reaction Viral Ayushmann Khurrana's Confession In Reh Ja BTS Video: "Can Live Without Films, But..." Shooter Had Trump's Face Right In Middle Of Crosshairs, Shows New Video Barack Obama Wants Joe Biden To Pull Out Of US Presidential Race: Report World's Largest Isolated Tribe Makes Rare Appearance In New Footage Delhi-San Francisco Air India Flight Diverted To Russia After Engine Glitch Congress Does Not Want Manipur Like Situation In Tripura: Gaurav Gogoi Ice-Cream Shop Owner Hospitalised After Being Shot At In Pune: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.