Petronas has decided not to scrap its Deepavali greetings clip ‘Do the Dappan' posted on YouTube despite it drawing hundreds of negative comments.
The national oil company will not take off the three-minute clipdespite calls from MIC, representatives of the government and Indian religious leaders that it puts Indian Malaysians in bad light.
Hundreds of comments in YouTube, Malaysiakini and social blogs have also raised the negative connotations of the Petronas Deepavali greetings.
Petronas in a statement this evening noted that the 'Do the Dappan' clip embedded with positive messages was produced for broadcast on itsYouTube domain.
It was also to complement a Deepavali exhibition at Galeri Petronas called 'Be the Light - A Celebration of Culture and Tradition'.
The national oil company will not take off the three-minute clipdespite calls from MIC, representatives of the government and Indian religious leaders that it puts Indian Malaysians in bad light.
Hundreds of comments in YouTube, Malaysiakini and social blogs have also raised the negative connotations of the Petronas Deepavali greetings.
Petronas in a statement this evening noted that the 'Do the Dappan' clip embedded with positive messages was produced for broadcast on itsYouTube domain.It was also to complement a Deepavali exhibition at Galeri Petronas called 'Be the Light - A Celebration of Culture and Tradition'.
Petronas said the campaign was conceptualised to reach out to a greater number of Malaysians from all walks of life, carrying the core messages of positive attributes and values associated with the spirit and celebration of Deepavali.
The statement went on to thank the religious division of Malaysia Hindu Sangam for its invaluable advice and counsel in ensuring that its exhibition and messages were consistent with and reflected the spirit of the festival.
"Our campaign - viewed in its entirety - is inspired by and revolves around this positive energy, epitomised via the passion, drive and resolve of Malaysia's Indian community, which are indeed attributes that are universally relevant to all of us.
"These positive attributes are something that we should all promote, inculcate and emulate," the Petronas statement adds.
The statement went on to thank the religious division of Malaysia Hindu Sangam for its invaluable advice and counsel in ensuring that its exhibition and messages were consistent with and reflected the spirit of the festival.
"Our campaign - viewed in its entirety - is inspired by and revolves around this positive energy, epitomised via the passion, drive and resolve of Malaysia's Indian community, which are indeed attributes that are universally relevant to all of us.
"These positive attributes are something that we should all promote, inculcate and emulate," the Petronas statement adds.
MIC wants YouTube posting removed
For many viewers, the ‘Do the Dappan' is a far cry from the late film maker Yasmin Ahmad's affectionate, meaningful and memorable work to celebrate Malaysian festivities.
Late this evening, the MIC called on Petronas to remove the Deepavali advertisement from YouTube as it did not reflect Indian culture.
MIC secretary-general S Murugesan said the advertisement may send the wrong message to Indians youths in the country, especially the Hindus.
"I have watched the video. I think Petronas should withdraw it and replace it with something else," Mujrugesan said.
Former Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam said yesterday: "It is a controversial advertisement from the start. It shows gangster-like Indian characters causing havoc in the community.
"The clip stereotypes Indians negatively as the ones creating traffic jams by dancing in the middle of the streets."
According to Wikipedia, ‘Dappan Koothu' is a folk dance and music genre emphasising on percussion performed in Tamil Nadu, India, and has become popular in film music.
A percussion instrument, called ‘Tharai thappattai' that resembles the tambourine but without the jingles, is often used and can be heard being played in houses where death has occurred to suppress the wailing, using a specific beat called ‘Saavu Adi'.
For many viewers, the ‘Do the Dappan' is a far cry from the late film maker Yasmin Ahmad's affectionate, meaningful and memorable work to celebrate Malaysian festivities.
Late this evening, the MIC called on Petronas to remove the Deepavali advertisement from YouTube as it did not reflect Indian culture.
MIC secretary-general S Murugesan said the advertisement may send the wrong message to Indians youths in the country, especially the Hindus.
"I have watched the video. I think Petronas should withdraw it and replace it with something else," Mujrugesan said.
Former Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam said yesterday: "It is a controversial advertisement from the start. It shows gangster-like Indian characters causing havoc in the community.
"The clip stereotypes Indians negatively as the ones creating traffic jams by dancing in the middle of the streets."
According to Wikipedia, ‘Dappan Koothu' is a folk dance and music genre emphasising on percussion performed in Tamil Nadu, India, and has become popular in film music.
A percussion instrument, called ‘Tharai thappattai' that resembles the tambourine but without the jingles, is often used and can be heard being played in houses where death has occurred to suppress the wailing, using a specific beat called ‘Saavu Adi'.
M KRISHNAMOORTHY is a freelance correspondent and producer working with overseas TV networks. He has in the past interviewed Yasmin Ahmad and written reviews of Petronas commercials directed by her.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.