Nayanthara's 'Annapoorani' taken down from Netflix for hurting Hindu sentiments

Netflix has taken down Nayanthara's recent film, 'Annapoorani', following an upsurge in complaints about the movie allegedly disrespecting Hindu religious sentiments.

The removal comes in response to mounting protests against the film, with accusations of it causing offense to 'Hindu sentiments' gaining traction.

The Hindu IT cell's founder, Ramesh Solanki, filed an FIR against the movie, prompting Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Shriraj Nair to issue a warning to Netflix, urging them to withdraw the film.

Directed by Nilesh Krishnaa, 'Annapoorani' premiered in theaters on December 1 and subsequently became available on Netflix on December 29.

However, within a week, various groups objected to the content, labeling it as 'anti-Hindu'.

Solanki's complaint specifically highlighted a perceived love jihad angle, emphasizing the romantic tension between Farhan and Annapoorani, which allegedly remained unexplored, sparking controversy around the 'Love Jihad' narrative.

Another contentious scene involved Annapoorani wearing a hijab and offering namaz during the final round of a cooking show, where she competes against Chef Ashwin Sundarrajan (Karthik Kumar) to prepare the best biryani.

As Annapoorani had learned to cook biryani from Farhan's mother, her act of offering namaz was seen as a tribute to her. This scene drew criticism from right-wing factions, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the film.