Mangalsutra | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:15:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png Mangalsutra | SabrangIndia 32 32 Sabyasachi divorces bikini-clad mangalsutra advt after legal action threatened https://sabrangindia.in/sabyasachi-divorces-bikini-clad-mangalsutra-advt-after-legal-action-threatened/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:15:20 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2021/11/01/sabyasachi-divorces-bikini-clad-mangalsutra-advt-after-legal-action-threatened/ Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s response to BJP politician’s warning of legal action, online hate, was to drop the advertisement of his version of the mangalsutra.

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Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s response to Bharatiya Janata Party politician Narottam Mishra’s, a minister in the Madhya Pradesh government, warning of legal action, and the online hate was to drop the advertisement of his version of the mangalsutra. The mangalsutra advertisement featuring models in intimate wear was dropped on Sunday, even though the product remains online and has not since been trolled, or so it appears. Leading the criticism against the designer’s highly stylised advertisement was Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra who had ‘warned’ Sabyasachi with legal action if he did not take down the advertisement within 24 hours. So, Sabyasachi posted an Instagram note stating the advertisement was meant to make “heritage and culture a dynamic conversation,” and that it was “aimed to talk about inclusivity and empowerment. The campaign was intended as a celebration and we are deeply saddened that it has instead offended a section of our society. So we at Sabyasachi have decided to withdraw the campaign”.

Mishra’s Sunday ultimatum to the brand called Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s mangalsutra advertisement “highly objectionable and hurtful” and warned that “If the objectionable advertisement is not removed within 24 hours #Sabyasachi Mukherjee Legal action will be taken by registering a case against him.”

On Monday November 1,  Mishra claimed a win saying “Sabyasachi removed the post after i said so,” but added that next time there won’t even be a warning and “direct action will be taken” and that the designer, and also Dabur, had been forgiven for now as it was their “first offence.”

 

 

Apart from the MP minister, lawyer Ashutosh J Dubey, whose twitter bio states that he is a “Legal Advisor Of BJP-Maharashtra Palghar District” and a “Practicing Legal Solicitor at Bombay High Court” had also issued a legal notice to Sabyasachi for using “semi-naked models for a Mangalsutra collection advertisement as Mangalsutra is part of Holy Hindu Marriage” and alleging that “the holy Hindu Marriage (Mangalsutra)” had been

“outraged” going on to say that there was “a sound scientific justification” behind wearing a Mangalsutra made of pure gold and the “promotional advertisement features heterosexual and same-sex couples posing for pictures wearing the Royal Bengal Mangalsutra…” He has now congratulated “everyone” on the ‘win’.

 

 

Mangalsutras now selling as stand alone

However, the line of designer mangalsutras is still online in what may be a more acceptable way for the sanskari folks who can afford it, or simply like to window shop online. The mangalsutra, which boasts of the Sabyasachi logo as the centrepiece is now showcased online proudly, carrying the Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s brand logo of the stylised interpretation of the Royal Bengal tiger as jewellery collection. There are no semi naked, sexy looking, same sex couples shown wearing it. Hence putting to an end, heated discussions about ‘morality’ and ‘culture’ being insulted by photos of models in black bras, wearing tiny bindi and the mangalsutra, for now.

 

 

Some advertisements that made trolls work overtime this season:

  • Sabyasachi: Controversy over mangalsutra worn by bikini-clad, same sex models
  • Dabur: Trolled for ‘insulting’ Karva Chauth
  • CEAT Tyres: Aamir Khan’s Diwali ad ‘hurt’ Hindu sentiments
  • Fabindia bullied for Jashn-e-Riwaz
  • FabIndia: Trolled for using Urdu words “Jashn-e-Riwaaz” in Diwali advertisement
  • ID: Falsely accused of using animal products in dosa batter.

 

Related:

Controversy couture: Hey fashionistas, do you wear a mangalsutra with your bikini?

Dabur uses LGBTQI storyline to sell skin bleach, gets trolled for ‘insulting’ Karva

BJP MP says Aamir Khan’s CEAT Tyres Diwali ad hurts Hindu sentiments

Jashn-e-trolling: What does the festive season mean for bhakts?

 

 

 

 

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]]> Controversy couture: Hey fashionistas, do you wear a mangalsutra with your bikini? https://sabrangindia.in/controversy-couture-hey-fashionistas-do-you-wear-mangalsutra-your-bikini/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 07:06:45 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2021/10/28/controversy-couture-hey-fashionistas-do-you-wear-mangalsutra-your-bikini/ Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s puts mangalsutra on bikini clad models, responses are as expected

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Best known for elaborate, and expensive wedding outfits often worn by film actors, designer Sabyasachi is also gaining fame for couture controversy. This time around he, and his eponymous label are getting trolled for a line of designer mangalsutras. However the problem in these sanskari times is not the design of the mangalsutra, which boasts of the Sabyasachi logo as the centerpiece.

Keepers of our ‘tradition and morality’ are more upset that the new campaign from the house of Sabyasachi shows skimpily clad models. It seems that some images also show male models wearing the mangalsutra which is traditionally only worn by married women in most parts of India. 

Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s brand logo of the stylised interpretation of the Royal Bengal tiger is the centre of this jewellery collection. The mangalsutra collection is actually pretty light and laid back, unlike his heavy and elaborate wedding collections usually are. Sabyasachi’s official Instagram handle shared the campaign that described the designs as, “a Royal Bengal Mangalsutra 1.2 and the Bengal Tiger Icon collection of necklaces, earrings, and signet rings in 18k gold with VVS diamonds, black onyx and black enamel”… A mouthful of a description, so viewers perhaps skipped the reading, and trained their eyes on the model in a black bra and a tiny bindi, wearing the mangalsutras; a shirtless male model was the human prop. 

The models may be viewed here: https://www.instagram.com/sabyasachiofficial/ 

And the jewellery sans models may be viewed here: https://www.instagram.com/sabyasachijewelry/

Enough photos to throw trolls into high gear, never mind that most of them, and us, would not be able to afford the bikini, leave alone the jewellery that was being advertised. Some called it underwear advertising, others were less charitable. 

 

 

It is not known if those trolling have ever visited the beaches especially of Goa, where newly wed couples, mostly from north india, are on the honeymoon holiday, all clad in bikinis, sometimes underwear, accessorised heavily with mangalsutra, choora (bangles), and other signs of marriage. It is not yet known if Sabyasacchi was trolled for the size of bindi, or lack of it and sindoor, like FabIndia was recently, or for that matter showing same sex couples like Dabur was. 

However, the brand and the man are not new to controversy, he was called out for the “collaboration” with H&M. Sabyasachi, even got an open letter from various artisan collaboratives and organisations that called him out for the collaboration. Many objected to traditional folk designs being “appropriated without credit or compensation to the communities that have held it all these centuries.” However, it seems that the open letter may have landed in the designers’ spam box.

 

Related:

Dabur uses LGBTQI storyline to sell skin bleach, gets trolled for ‘insulting’ Karva 

BJP MP says Aamir Khan’s CEAT Tyres Diwali ad hurts Hindu sentiments

Jashn-e-trolling: What does the festive season mean for bhakts?

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