Film Annaporani, ‘The Goddess of Food’ became a controversial film just one day after its release on December 1. The film was protested on the concerns of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus and spreading ‘love jihad’. After which Annaporani was taken down from the OTT platform Netflix, where it was available for just a day after hitting theatres on December 1, 2023.
Nayanthara, the lead actor in the movie released a statement following the removal of her film Annapoorani from Netflix. Now, Nayanthara has come forward to apologize and explain her intentions.
Nayanthara posted a written apology. She began her statement with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and continued “In our sincere attempt to share a positive message, we may have inadvertently caused hurt. We did not expect the removal of a censored film, previously showcased in theatres, from the OTT platform.”
The actress cleared the intentions behind the film. The actress wrote, “The intention behind Annapoorani was to uplift and inspire, not to cause distress”. Also, the actress claimed that her journey in the film industry has been “to spread positivity and foster learning from one another”, for the last two decades.
The Annapoorani actress further spoke about her devotion towards God and that hurting religious sentiments is not something she can do ever. “My team and I never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments and we understand the gravity of this issue. Being someone who wholely believes in God and frequently visits temples across the country, it is the last thing I would intentionally do. To those whose feelings we’ve touched, I extend my sincere and heartfelt apologies,” Nayanthara’s post reads.
Nayanthara made this statement through her Instagram post a few days after a complaint was filed against the movie, claiming that some scenes hurt the feelings of Hindus, disrespected Lord Ram, and promoted ‘love jihad.’
Annaporani, Story and Cast
Annapoorani tells the story of an ambitious woman facing a dilemma in a traditional family and town. She struggles between pursuing her passion as she wants to become a chef and adhering to orthodox values. Nayanthara takes on the lead role. Other significant roles played by Sathyaraja, Achyuth Kumar, KS Ravikumar, Karthik Kumar, and Renuka also feature in the film. Zee Studios, Naad Studios, and Trident Arts are the production companies behind the movie.
Annaporani Controversy
Some scenes in the movie caused controversy, like Nayanthara’s character praying in a hijab before cooking biryani and a friend suggesting she should cut meat, claiming Lord Rama and Goddess Sita did the same. The film was also accused of promoting “love jihad.” Zee Entertainment, a co-producer, apologized in writing to Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), explaining they didn’t mean to offend religious feelings. They promised not to release the film again until it was edited, reassuring VHP, affiliated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).