With 'Jai Sri Ram' as the title, actor Nayanthara, who recently faced right-wing backlash accusing her of hurting the religious feelings of Hindus, wrote an Instagram post apologizing for the controversy surrounding her film 'Annapoorani.
In the post, she expressed regret for inadvertently hurting the religious feelings of Hindus, declaring her understanding of the gravity of the issue.
"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. My team and I never intended to hurt anyone's sentiments and we understand that the gravity of this issue. Being someone who wholely believes in God and frequently visits temples accross 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," her Instagram post read.
The controversy erupted when several Hindu groups accused 'Annapoorani' of disseminating "anti-Hindu" propaganda. The movie revolves around the character Annapoorani, played by Nayanthara, who navigates the challenges of pursuing her dream of becoming a top chef while grappling with conservative Brahmin ideals.
The contentious scene in question involves Annapoorani being convinced to eat meat by a classmate who cites Lord Ram's purported consumption of non-vegetarian food.
Ramesh Solanki, founder of the Hindu IT cell, expressed his objections on social media, leading to a formal complaint and subsequent FIR filed by the Mumbai Police. The complaint targeted Nayanthara, co-star Jai, writer-director Nilesh Krishna, producers Jatin Sethi, R Ravindran, and Punit Goenka, Zee Studios Chief Business Officer Shariq Patel, and Netflix India head Monika Shergill.
In her Instagram post, Nayanthara apologized for any unintended hurt caused, emphasizing her belief in God and frequent temple visits, highlighting that hurting sentiments were never her team's intention. She expressed shock at the removal of a previously censored film from the OTT platform.
"The intention behind 'Annapoorni was to uplift and inspire, not to cause distress. Over the last two decades, my journey in the film industry has been guided with a singular intention - to spread positivity and foster learning from one another," Nayanthara stated.
Netflix's decision to pull the film last week sparked further debates on artistic freedom and censorship. The controversy underscores the delicate balance between creative expression and cultural sensitivities in the film industry, prompting discussions on the responsibility of filmmakers to navigate such intricacies.