Nayanthara breaks silence on 'Annapoorani' controversy: We did not expect the removal of a censored film

Nayanthara in a still from Annapoorani

Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, which was directed by Nilesh Krishnaa and starring Nayanthara, was released in theatres on December 1 and began streaming on Netflix on December 29. Soon, the film landed in legal trouble after a section of people took offense to certain scenes in the film. The film was taken down by the platform following legal complaints and alleged hurting of religious sentiments of a section of people.

Now, a few days after the film was taken down, lead actor Nayanthara has issued a statement addressing the 'Annapoorani' controversy. In her Instagram handle, Nayanthara shared her official statement which began with the words 'Jai Shri Ram in bold.

"I am writing this note with a heavy heart and a genuine desire to address the recent turn of events concerning our film, 'Annapoorni'. Crafting 'Annapoorni was not just a cinematic endeavor but a heartfelt pursuit of inspiring resilience and instilling the spirit of never giving up. It aimed to mirror life's journey, where we learn that obstacles can be overcome with sheer willpower," she began her statement.

"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 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."

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 & foster learning from one another," she concluded her note.

The Controversial scene:

Ramesh Solanki, founder of the Hindu IT cell, took to X (formerly Twitter) and expressed his objection to the film. He also filed a complaint with the police, based on which, an FIR was filed by the Mumbai Police.

In his post on X, he also detailed the scenes that offended him, saying, "A daughter of Hindu Poojari, offers Namaz to cook Biryani. Love Jihad is promoted in this Film. Farhan (Actor) persuades the actress to eat meat saying that Bhagwan Shri Ram was also a meat eater."

The complaint was filed against Nayanthara, Jai, Nilesh Krishna, producers Jatin Sethi, R Ravindran, Punit Goenka, Zee Studios Chief Business Officer Shariq Patel and head of Netflix India, Monika Shergill.