Netflix withdrew the movie ‘Annapoorni’ from its platform on January 11 following allegations by right-wing groups that the film had offended the sentiments of the Hindu community, particularly Brahmins.
The film’s producers, Zee5, issued a written apology to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), stating that there was no intention to hurt the community’s sentiments. They also committed to not re-releasing the film until necessary edits were made.
In response to the controversy, an FIR (First Information Report) was filed against the film’s actress, Nayanthara, its director Nilesh Krishnaa, as well as the producers and writer by the police in Jabalpur. The FIR, under sections 153A (promoting enmity between groups) and 3A, was lodged at Omti police station.
The film, directed by Nilesh Krishnaa, features Nayanthara as the daughter of a temple cook with aspirations to become the country’s best chef. The storyline involves her going against her family’s wishes by preparing non-vegetarian food to showcase her talent.
Originally released in theaters on December 1, the film began streaming on Netflix from December 29. Despite the Hindi version sparking anger among a segment of the Hindu community, the film, which had received approval from the Censor Board’s Chennai regional office, was removed from the platform in all languages and countries.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) considered this move a victory for Hindus, with spokesperson Vinod Bansal stating that Zee Studios had apologized following their complaint. The VHP had raised concerns about scenes, verses, and dialogues in the film that allegedly attributed false and contradictory statements to Lord Ram, suggesting that he consumed animal flesh during his 14 years of exile.
The Mumbai unit of the VHP, in a letter to Zee Studios, emphasized that such portrayals not only disrespect deeply cherished beliefs but also spread misinformation about revered figures in Hinduism, potentially leading to social unrest. Protests against the film were organized by right-wing groups in Mumbai and other locations.
Zee Studios, acknowledging the VHP’s concerns, expressed their commitment to addressing the issues and coordinating with co-producers M/s. Trident Arts to take necessary actions. They also apologized for any inconvenience caused and expressed a lack of intention to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu and Brahmin communities.
