Hyderabad: Fun videos centered on Ramzan branded as entertainment draw criticism

While many think it is alright for the artist to make fun videos for entertainment purposes when it comes to regular topics, the creation of videos focused on Ramzan is not being taken in good taste.

Hyderabad: The fun videos centered on the pious month of Ramzan and widely promoted on social media branding as entertainment are drawing criticism from several quarters for its unethical content.

These fun videos are produced by local social media content directors and performer groups on a variety of topics that include festivals, current affairs, sports etc, and shared on social media platforms. The videos gain immense viewership due to its local dialect and artist.

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While many think it is alright for the artist to make fun videos for entertainment purposes when it comes to regular topics, the creation of videos focused on Ramzan is not being taken in good taste.

In a video, a group of youngsters who pretend to observe ‘roza’ (fast) are sitting for ‘iftar’ (for breaking the fast) in a room when suddenly they hear azaan’ (prayer call) and eat a date to break the fast. Only later, they realize that it was not the azaan from the mosque, also a form signal to break the fast, but the mobile phone of one among that rang and the azaan is set as a ringtone in the gadget.

“Such silly videos are condemnable. One should not make fun of religious practices just to gain views and following. People should desist from such things,” said Ilyas Shamshi, president Team NGOs, demanding the content should be immediately deleted by all those who posted it.

In another video circulating on social media platforms, a group of people are set to celebrate a birthday and sing the ‘Happy birthday song’ and cut a cake when a boy stops them and reminds them about Ramzan. Swiftly, one of the persons in the video brings in a big watermelon and takes away the cake. The birthday boy cuts the watermelon while in background an Arabic song is played.

SA Hussaini, a social activist criticized the content created by the performers and asked them to mend their ways. “It is unfortunate that people are failing to understand the importance of Ramzan. The parents should stop their children from indulging in such things. The religious scholars should come and address such issues before it’s too late,” he said.