In a significant milestone for acclaimed actress Nayanthara, her 75th film, ‘Annapoorani,’ directed by Nilesh Krishnaa, hit theaters on December 1, 2023. Starring Nayanthara, Jai, and Sathyaraj in lead roles, the movie, however, garnered a lukewarm response, managing to gross Rs 5 crore at the box office.
According to reports from The Republic, Mumbai’s LT Marg Police Station received a complaint against the film, alleging the promotion of “Love Jihad.” The complaint further claimed that a particular scene featuring actor Jai insinuates that Lord Ram was a meat eater, causing offense to religious sentiments.
Titled ‘Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food,’ the film sparked controversy following its digital premiere on the Netflix OTT platform. The Hindu IT Cell filed a complaint with the Mumbai police, contending that the movie misrepresented Valmiki’s Ramayana and made derogatory remarks about Lord Ram.
The storyline revolves around a girl aspiring to become a chef. As the daughter of a Hindu temple pujari, she faces challenges in preparing non-vegetarian food. Controversy erupted over a scene depicting her performing the Islamic prayer Namaz, with her head covered, before a cooking competition. Nayanthara’s character recalls a friend suggesting that her Biryani tasted exceptional when prepared after performing Namaz, prompting her to replicate the practice for the competition. This particular scene has generated controversy, with accusations of hurting religious sentiments.