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You can still watch the video here, courtesy of a link provided by Malaysiakini:
The clip at this site comes with the message: Published on Nov 8, 2012 by malaysiavideos.
The video was pulled out from Petronas Youtube Channel after strong protests from Malaysian Indians. Disclaimer: The video is for archive purposes only and NO official link with Petronas or any company.
PETRONAS Deepavali 2012 ‘Do the Dappan’
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Petronas to discontinue ‘Do The Dappan’ clip on YouTube
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Free Malaysia Today
Overshadowing the Festival of Lights
Will it upset Najib if his 1Malaysia concept is summarised at best as a political stunt, going by the disrespect shown to the ‘Festival of Lights’, both by the media and the politicians?
Excerpts from the article
Even though the Indians form a relatively small number at 16%, that does not make their festivals any less significant. Deepavali, celebrated tomorrow, is held auspicious for it marks the victory of good over evil, of darkness being conquered by light.
Still, the message behind the celebration of Deepavali fails many, as seen from the Petronas advertisement featuring the antics of a bunch of people wriggling to perform Dappankuthu, a dance prominent in Tamil cinema.
To some who saw it on the telly or YouTube, it was fun but to the rest the “Do the Dappan Deepavali” advertisement by the country’s national oil and gas company has left a bitter taste.
It leaves many wondering why is Deepavali regarded as “trivial” to the extent that it is hardly portrayed fervently, a far cry when compared to the exaggerated excitement surrounding the Hari Raya Puasa and Chinese New Year?
Petronas’ Dappan effort was a tepid affair, done with no understanding of the meaning “Pesta Cahaya” or “Festival of Lights”.
The Dappan instead came across as a half-baked effort by Petronas in dragging itself to partake in the Deepavali celebration.
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Had respect been the bedrock of our so-called muhibbah society, Najib woud have voiced out his unhappiness over the Dappan advertisement or the fact that there are hardly any Deepavali greetings coming the viewers way or that both the government and Media Prima-controlled television stations respectively have not bothered to foster goodwill among the rakyat by arousing the Deepavali spirit by way of a festive tagline and an array of programmes.
Why the discrepancy and discrimination when it comes to the “Festival of Lights”?
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Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.
Overshadowing the Festival of Lights
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Petronas removes Diwali video over funeral dance blunder
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
Malaysia’s national oil company Petronas was left red faced after angry viewers pointed out that a music video it posted on its official YouTube page to mark Diwali depicted a funeral dance.
The three minute clip was pulled out after the company reviewed the mixed feedback on the video, which had drawn more than 130,000 views.
The video featured young Malaysian ethnic Indians performing the “Dappan Koothu”, an energetic form of Tamil folk dance performed to loud music on any occasion not necessarily funeral.
Petronas removes Diwali video over funeral dance blunder …
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Sundaily
Petronas yanks Diwali video over funeral dance blunder
Last updated on 9 November 2012 – 05:15pm
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9, 2012): Malaysian state energy firm Petronas has pulled a YouTube music video it posted to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali after angry viewers pointed out that it depicted an inappropriate funeral dance.
Race and religion are sensitive issues in Malaysia which experienced deadly racial riots in 1969, and critics complained that the video failed to depict the true meaning of the festival of lights, which commemorates the triumph of good over evil.
The three-minute video advertisement on its YouTube page featured at least 14 dancers in colourful clothing doing the “Dappan Koothu” an energetic dance routine popular in South Indian Tamil movies.
Critics complained that the peppy music-cum-dance video was irrelevant to Diwali celebrations because it depicted a dance sometimes performed before a funeral procession.
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Malaysiakini
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Just 24 hours after sticking to its guns to keep the Deepavali greetings ‘Do the Dappan’ video clip on its official YouTube site, Petronas this evening issued a statement saying the three-minute clip is being taken off.
The oil company said: “After considering the varied feedback received from viewers on our ‘Do the Dappan’ video clip, produced as part of our ‘Be the Light’ 2012 Deepavali campaign, Petronas has decided to discontinue the video from its official YouTube page.”
In a rightabout-turn from yesterday’s statement, Petronas added that the ‘Do the Dappan’ clip embedded with positive messages was produced for broadcast on its YouTube domain.
However, a check much later this evening showed that ‘Do the Dappan can still be viewed onYouTube.
The clip at this site comes with the message: Published on Nov 8, 2012 by malaysiavideos.
The video was pulled out from Petronas Youtube Channel after strong protests from Malaysian Indians. Disclaimer: The video is for archive purposes only and NO official link with Petronas or any company.
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M KRISHNAMOORTHY is a freelance correspondent and producer working with overseas TV networks. He has in the past interviewed Yasmin Ahmad and written reviews of Petronas commercials directed by her.
Petronas flip-flops, takes ‘Dappan’ video off
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Sundaily
PETRONAS-“Be the Light – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition”, Campaign explained
Last updated on 8 November 2012 – 01:05pm
Datuk Mohammad Medan Abdullah and A. Krishnan visiting the exhibition booth at the “PETRONAS Be the Light Exhibition” launch.In lieu of some feedback about the Deepavali TVCs produced by the national Oil & Gas company – Petronas, the group has come out with a statement to explain the meaning behind the ads and the positive perspective they aspired to share from the whole campaign.
PETRONAS wishes to thank all Malaysians for the feedback received for our 2012 Deepavali Campaign.
Themed “Be the Light – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition”, our Campaign was conceptualised to reach out to a greater number of Malaysians from all walks of life, carrying the core messages of positive attributes and values associated with the spirit and celebration of Deepavali.
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Essentially, the entire “Be the Light” Campaign – which runs from 5th to 25th November — comprises the following:
• An exhibition in GALERI PETRONAS entitled “Be the Light – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition”, inspired by centuries-old Indian heritage and showcasing a snapshot of the culture and tradition observed as Deepavali is celebrated. This exhibition is the key driver in our Deepavali Campaign.
• A series of television commercials/greetings featuring talents and personalities who have starred in our past festive ads to complement the exhibition.
• A video clip “Do the Dappan”, embedded with positive messages, produced for broadcast on PETRONAS’ YouTube domain – also to complement the exhibition.
• A series of Deepavali greetings/print ads in local newspapers
PETRONAS would like to thank various parties whom we worked with, particularly the Religious Division of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, whose advice and counsel were invaluable in ensuring that our exhibition and messages are consistent with and reflect the spirit of the festival.
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Our Campaign – viewed in its entirety — is inspired by and revolves around this positive energy, epitomised via the passion, drive and resolve of Malaysia’s Indian community which are indeed attributes that are universally relevant to all of us.
These positive attributes are something that we should all promote, inculcate and emulate.
Happy Deepavali.
PETRONAS-“Be the Light – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition”, Campaign explained
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Petronas: Our campaign – viewed in its entirety – is inspired by and revolves around this positive energy, epitomised via the passion, drive and resolve of Malaysia’s Indian community, which are indeed attributes that are universally relevant to all of us.
Malaysiakini
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Petronas has decided not to scrap its Deepavali greetings clip ‘Do the Dappan’ posted on YouTube despite it drawing hundreds of negative comments.
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Petronas in a statement this evening noted that the ‘Do the Dappan’ clip embedded with positive messages was produced for broadcast on its YouTube domain.
It was also to complement a Deepavali exhibition at Galeri Petronas called ‘Be the Light – A Celebration of Culture and Tradition’.
Petronas said the campaign was conceptualised to reach out to a greater number of Malaysians from all walks of life, carrying the core messages of positive attributes and values associated with the spirit and celebration of Deepavali.
The statement went on to thank the religious division of Malaysia Hindu Sangam for its invaluable advice and counsel in ensuring that its exhibition and messages were consistent with and reflected the spirit of the festival.
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Petronas to keep Deepavali advert despite criticism
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Free Malaysia Today
MIC: Withdraw ‘Do the Dappan’ ad
MIC secretary-general S Murugesan says the dance routine in the video does not reflect the Indian culture.
PETALING JAYA: The MIC has called upon Petronas to remove its Deepavali advertisement for this year, which is posted on YouTube, saying it did not reflect the Indian culture.
MIC secretary-general S Murugesan said that the advertisement may send the wrong message to Indians youths in the country, especially the Hindus.
“I have watched the video. I think Petronas should with withdraw the advertisement and replace it with something else,” he said.
The advertisement, which runs for over three minutes, shows youth named Raj doing the Dappan Kuthu dance and getting unlikely people to join his dance routine.
Petronas defines the Dappan Kuthu dance as an energetic dance routine which is prominent in Tamil cinema.
However, the video drew ire from Internet users, who claimed that the advertisement is far from reflecting the spirit of Deepavali.
The video, which drew nearly 100,000 visitors as of today, had 1,442 “dislikes” as opposed to 325 “likes”.
The advertisement is scheduled to be aired nationwide this weekend
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Free Malaysia Today
‘Do the Dappan’ not in Deepavali spirit
The Deepavali advertisement by Petronas for this year drew ire from YouTube viewers, who said the dance routine in the clip does not reflect the spirit of the festival of light.
PETALING JAYA: The Deepavali advertisement by Petronas for this year has drawn flak from viewers, merely two days after being posted on YouTube.
Titled “Do the Dappan”, the clip that runs for over three minutes shows a youth named Raj doing the Dappan Kuthu dance and getting unlikely people joining in the fun due to the catchy tune.
Petronas defines the Dappan Kuthu dance as an energetic dance routine which is prominent in Tamil cinema.
“Deepavali is a celebration of the inner light within us — the positive energy that brings happiness to the world. So this year, Petronas reassures us that no gesture is too small to bring a little happiness to the lives of others,” posted Petronas on the clip.
The video had since drew 237 comments but most viewers did not feel the “light” from the clip.
Commentator Ravin Daran posted yesterday saying,” Stupid concept!! It’s like disgracing the Indian community. They shouldn’t advertise it. There is no creative and innovative thinking. There is nothing showing Indian norms and culture. This video is piece of *&^%.”
Do the Dappan’ not in Deepavali spirit
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Former Malaysian Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam said: “It is a controversial advertisement from the start. It shows gangster-like Indian characters causing havoc in the community.”
Senator S Ramakrishnan,”The advertisement does not portray Indian culture, but is based on the current trend of Tamil films that depict violence, gangsterism and (cult) worship of film stars.”
Malaysiakini
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This year’s Petronas advertisement wishing Hindus ‘Happy Deepavali’ is a far cry from the affectionate, meaningful and memorable works of film maker Yasmin Ahmad.
The three-minute video clip ‘Let’s do the Dappan’ – a musical depicting people dancing in the streets – is in bad taste, according to viewers who were interviewed.
*Wikipedia explains ‘Dappan Koothu’ as: ‘A folk dance and music genre with an emphasis on percussion performed in Tamil Nadu, India. It has become one of several popular genres employed in film music …
‘A percussion instrument called the Tharai thappattai drum, resembling a tambourine without the jingles, is often used …
‘This instrument can be heard being played in houses where death has occurred to reduce or to suppress the sound of crying or to inform others about a death in Tamil villages. The particular beat employed is called Saavu Adi.
‘It may also be used to express joy. Mostly, this dance form is pretty much accompanied by ‘Gaana Songs’ – a typical song genre that goes along with this dance type. Like in Local Chennai they say, “Like Liquor and Pickle, DappanKuthu and Gaana go together”.’
Critics pan Petronas’ Deepavali advertisement
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