Vijay’s much-delayed Jana Nayagan has opened to poor reviews, with many critics calling it a disastrous farewell for one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars. But one line from veteran film critic Baradwaj Rangan’s review has now created a controversy beyond the film.
While describing the film’s violence, Rangan wrote that blood appears on screen “as frequently as a Telugu cinema heroine’s navel.”
The comment did not go down well with many Telugu film fans.
Many people on social media felt it was an unnecessary dig at Telugu cinema. The industry has often been trolled for the way some commercial films focused on heroines’ navels. But many felt that a respected critic using the same old stereotype was disappointing rather than funny.
People agreed that critics have every right to dislike a film and use strong language. However, many argued that reducing an entire film industry to an old stereotype was an easy joke instead of meaningful criticism.
The controversy has also brought back some of Rangan’s earlier comments.
Many users shared his old Ghajini review, in which he described Nayanthara as “an annoying, overweight Nayantara, whose rolls of fat appear to be doing a Mexican Wave across her waist.” Others also recalled an interview in which actor Tovino Thomas was trying to discuss a serious topic, but Rangan made a joke about the Epstein files. Critics of Rangan say these incidents show a pattern of comments that crossed the line from film criticism to personal or stereotypical remarks.
Many Telugu audiences also point out that every film industry, including Tamil cinema, has its own commercial formulas and clichés. That is why many are questioning whether this remark was really necessary.
brooohhThe what…???? pic.twitter.com/mgwg2qXQdj
— ROHIT|| (@Redrayer45) July 23, 2026
