PremiumAnnapoorani controversy explained – Why did Netflix remove Nayanthara’s film?
Nayanthara’s recently released culinary drama Annapoorani has been removed from Netflix amid extreme backlash from social media. Here’s everything you need to know about the controversy...
Last Updated: 08.07 PM, Jan 11, 2024
Annapoorani, the recently released Tamil culinary drama film that stars popular actress Nayanthara in the lead role, has been making headlines lately for all wrong reasons. The movie, which is helmed by Nilesh Krishnaa went majorly unnoticed after its theatrical release. However, the Nayanthara starrer garnered the attention of audiences across the globe after its OTT release on Netflix. Annapoorani received a major backlash from the netizens for apparently hurting the Hindu religious sentiments.
Meanwhile, an individual named Ramesh Solanki, who is the found of Hindu IT cell, took to his official X handle and revealed that he has filed complaints against the actors and technicians of the film. After Annapoorani was coined an anti-Hindu film, Netflix removed the Nayanthara starrer, without issuing an official statement.
Annapoorani controversy – Here's what we know
For the uninitiated, Annapoorani revolves around the titular character, played by Nayanthara, who hails from a Tamil Brahmin family in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu. She aspires to become the best chef in India, but her father, who serves as the chief priest of Srirangam, opposes the idea citing she is not supposed to cook or serve meat. However, Annapoorani secretly joins a Hotel Management course in the pretense of pursuing an MBA.
The Nayanthara starrer has been receiving major backlash, especially for two important scenes, which supposedly hurt the Hindu sentiments. In one of the scenes, the protagonist, who is a Tamil Brahmin girl, is seen offering Namaz before preparing the authentic chicken biryani. In another scene, Annapoorani’s love interest Farhaan (a Muslim young man) is seen explaining that Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, who were originally born to the Kshatriya community, were meat eaters.
A major group of Hindu believers mercilessly attacked the film for its apparent anti-Hindi statements and for promoting the ‘Love Jihad’ concept (by showcasing the romance of a Brahmin girl and a Muslim boy). After the heavy backlash and the police cases that followed, the makers of the film, Zee Studios released an official statement and apologised to the Hindu and Brahmin communities. In the statement addressing Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the production banner made it clear that they had no intention to hurt the communal sentiments.
However, Netflix, the official streaming partner of the movie has not commented on the controversy yet. Instead, OTT giant unceremoniously removed the Nayanthara starrer from the streaming platform today, in order to stop the issue from escalating any further. However, the reports suggest that Netflix will soon resume streaming the film, by editing out all the controversial portions. An official update on the same is expected to be out very soon.