Nayanthara’s Annapoorani had a flop theatrical run earning only Rs 5 crore. However, it gained attention when it premiered on Netflix but owing to backlash on the internet, the film has been removed from Netflix all across.
The film faced criticism from VHP and Bajrang Dal, and an FIR was filed against Nayanthara and the makers, accusing it of promoting Love Jihad and hurting religious sentiments. Soon the makers issued an apology asking the OTT platform to remove the film.
The controversy centered around scenes calling Lord Ram a meat eater. A scene showing the main character doing Namaz before a cooking competition angered some for allegedly disrespecting religious feelings. The story portrays a Brahmin woman turning into a meat-eater to pursue her passion for becoming the best chef in India. She prays in a Burqa before making Biryani in a competition.
Critically, the film is just passable, and without the controversy, it might not have received much attention. The controversy, however, brought it into the spotlight, drawing many viewers who feared it would be removed from Netflix – and it eventually was.
The removal of the film sparked mainly negative reactions on social media. Many criticized the lack of tolerance, emphasizing the importance of artistic freedom. On the other hand, a small group supporting Hindu extremism supported the ban, citing alleged religious insensitivity.
The cause of worry isn’t that a VHP worker claimed his “Hindu sentiments were hurt” & filed a complaint. The worrying factor is how quickly and spinelessly Netflix & Zee Studios agreed to pull Annapoorani down and apologized for it.
