Leading Tamil actress Nayanthara issued a clarification on Thursday night, January 18, after her film, Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, was removed from Netflix recently. Taking to Instagram, she penned a heartfelt apology after a section of people said they were offended by a few scenes in the film, which they stated were hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. Starting her statement with 'Jai Shri Ram', Nayanthara said, "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." (sic)
Fondly addressed as 'Lady Superstar' by fans, Nayanthara further asserted that it was not the intention of Annapoorani's team to hurt the sentiments and expressed her apology. She stated, "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 accross the country, it is the last thing I would intentionally do. To those whose feelings we've touched, I extend my sincere & heartfelt apologies." (sic)
Concluding her statement, Nayanthara said, "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." (sic) Released in theatres on December 1, Nayanthara's Annapoorani directed by debutant Nilesh Krishnaa and also starring Jai, Sathyaraj, Achyuth Kumar, K. S. Ravikumar, Karthik Kumar, Renuka, Sachu, among others in pivotal roles was removed from Netflix after it streamed only for a day.
