The Supreme Court has quashed all criminal charges against Priya Prakash Varrier, whose ‘wink song’ “Manikya Malaraya Poovi” from the movie Oru Adaar Love earned the ire of several Muslim groups, and consequentially, a slew of FIRs. The actress and director Omar Lulu had moved the Supreme Court seeking to stay the criminal proceedings against her by invoking an artiste’s fundamental right to speech and expression.
After hearing their petition, the bench, comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice Dipak Misra declared that no further complaints against the actress shall be entertained.
“We are inclined to direct that any criminal action against the petitioners in the respondent States (Telangana and Maharashtra) or in any State solely on the basis of the promotional video of the song shall remain stayed… No criminal action either by FIR or private complaint on the basis of her participation as an actress in the song shall be entertained,” the Supreme Court said.
Great news Supreme Court stays all criminal proceedings against #Priya Varrier 0f the ‘wink song’ fame in the film #Oruadarlove. pic.twitter.com/KS3lnI75lu
— Sreedhar Pillai (@sri50) February 21, 2018
The song written by PA Jabbar went viral when it released ten days ago. It shows a boy (Mohammad Roshan) looking at a girl (Priya P Varrier) seated far away. They lock eyes and start communicating with their eyebrows. While the boy has his eyebrow game strong, the girl winks, and he loses the game.
“Manikya Malaraya Poovi” turned the 18-year-old actress who is pursuing B.Com in a college in Thrissur into an overnight sensation.