December 2023 saw the release of an anti-Hindu, anti-Brahmin film named Annapoorani featuring Kollywood star Nayanthara. Touted as her milestone 75th film, the movie ended up being a disaster bombing at the box office.

Hindupost published an article on the film right after its release, calling out the bigotry and anti-Hindu content showcased in it. 

Following the release on OTT (Netflix), criticism started pouring out on social media. An X handle, Tamil Labs, had been creating awareness of the film right from when the teaser/trailer was released in November 2023.

Media channels also picked it up and called out the film’s storyline and inaccuracies. Gems Of Bollywood, a handle on X that regularly exposes the reality of the Hindi film industry, also picked this issue up, which added to the issues surrounding the film going viral. 

Following this, on January 6, former Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Solanki, founder of the Hindu IT Cell, filed a police complaint against the film’s makers, citing its anti-Hindu nature. Solanki urged action against objectionable scenes, such as a Hindu Brahmin temple priest’s daughter offering Namaz, glorification of love jihad, and alleged misrepresentations of Lord Ram and Maa Sita consuming meat in Ramayana.

Further intensifying the controversy, the Hindu Seva Parishad filed an FIR in Madhya Pradesh on January 10 against the film’s makers and actors, alleging derogatory remarks about Lord Rama and the promotion of Love Jihad. The FIR targeted the director, producer, actors, and four others associated with the film, accusing them of propagating false content that deeply offended Hindu sentiments. The Hindu Seva Parishad’s spokesperson highlighted objectionable scenes, claiming insulting remarks against Hindu deities, particularly Lord Rama, and expressing concern over the film’s alleged portrayal of Lord Rama consuming meat during exile as false propaganda, causing profound harm to Hindu sentiments.

On Thursday, January 11, a widely circulated letter on social media revealed Zee Studios’ apology to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) for the alleged offence caused by their film ‘Annapoorani’ to Hindu religious sentiments. Dated January 9, the letter, issued on Zee Studio’s letterhead, conveyed the studio’s regret and urged co-producers, M/s Trident Arts, to address the contentious elements in the film. Zee Studios also requested that Netflix temporarily remove the movie from its OTT platform until necessary alterations were made, apologising to the Hindu and Brahmin communities.

On Thursday, January 11, Netflix complied with the request, taking down ‘Annapoorani’ from its OTT platform. The film, starring Tamil actress Nayanthara and produced by Trident Arts, Zee Studios, and Naad Studios, faced severe backlash on social media for its perceived anti-Hindu content, including accusations of promoting conversion to Islam, misrepresenting Hindu deity Bhagwan Ram and offending Hindu sentiments.