National-Award-winning actress Surabhi Lakshmi abused for eating beef on Onam
National-Award-winning actor Surabhi Lakshmi has received a barrage of abuses on social media over a show featuring her telecast on Onam. On the TV special, Lakshmi was seen eating beef at a Kozhikode hotel. Later, she posted a picture of herself on social media with an Onam meal including chicken. In North Kerala, unlike in the south, the Onam meal usually consists of non-vegetarian dishes.
The controversial show was telecast on Malayalam channel Media One on Thiruvonam day. It was conceived as Lakshmi's day out. She is seen reliving memories of her brother's hotel, one of her most-loved hangout places. She tastes her favorite dish: beef fry with Kerala parantha. It didn't take long for hate messages to arrive.
"Your activities don't suit your name, better change it. You have certain agenda," said a comment. "Take pork next year, that might suit you better. Mind that take pork for next Eid -Ul- Fitar," wrote another. "You would do whatever dirty things for money, that is what we saw in the TV," said another, while one said she doesn't "deserve to be a Hindu".
Trolls also attacked Media One; its parent company Madhyanam has a Muslim management. Lakshmi later explained the show had been recorded two-three weeks prior to Onam. "The issue is not that I ate beef, but that the program was telecast during Onam." "Without understanding anything, people have just started abusing," she said. The Kerala Youth Commission has sought a police enquiry.
