Made in Heaven makers hit back at Yashica Dutt's credit snub claims with a new post
The intellectual property controversy surrounding the Prime Video series "Made in Heaven" gained traction as author Yashica Dutt accused the show's creators of portraying her life story for an episode without due credits.
Yesterday (August 18), the makers responded with a joint statement, stating they were "deeply disturbed" asserting their respect for Dalit authors and their works.
This came days after Neeraj Ghaywan, on Instagram, had thanked Yashica Dutt, among others, for making "coming out" in the Dalit context, "a part of the popular culture lexicon".
The statement
- In a joint statement Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Alankrita Srivastava and Neeraj Ghaywan, said the show is "set around wedding planners and remarkable brides" who challenge societal prejudices.
- According to the creators, the character of Pallavi Menke played by Radhika Apte was not based on Yashica's life, work or her book, 'Coming Out As Dalit.' They cited the usage of the term 'coming out' coined by Sumit Baudh in his article way back in 2007, a decade prior to the release of Yashica's book.
- The makers also stressed Pallavi's character did not attribute herself as a pioneer in using the phrase either.
- Yashica had claimed that the interview scene where Pallavi says her grandmother was a manual scavenger was literally the story of her grandmother, which she had mentioned several times publicly. Responding to this, the show makers said the narrative of toilet cleaning is part of a common narrative that came up during research of the episode. Moreover, Ghaywan had already, on Instagram acknowledged Yashica inspiring the scene.
- According to the statement, the character's fictional book, "Denied," pays homage to various works that highlight caste-based discrimination, including those by Sujatha Gidla, Suraj Yengde, Yashica Dutt, and Sumit Baudh.
ALSO READ: Dalit writer Yashica Dutt calls out Prime for no credit in Made in Heaven for Radhika Apte character
Respect for Dalit authors
The makers also expressed profound respect for the contributions of Dalit authors who have illuminated the discourse on caste discrimination. They acknowledged that the episode was a homage to the collective work of these authors, underscoring their commitment to raising awareness about deep-rooted societal issues.
ALSO READ: Made in Heaven Season 2 Review: Fabulous fashion, too many moral lessons
The harsh retaliation by the makers, brushing off Yashica's claims came out as a shocker to many as it could have been handled in a better manner.