It’s not always smooth sailing for the filmmaker when the movie is released. Very few South Indian movies face unexpected trouble upon release in theatres or on streaming platforms. Here are some films banned or withdrawn for various reasons. Here are five popular South Indian films that ran into trouble after their release or were taken off screens due to controversy.
‘Vishwaroopam ‘ – Kamal Haasan ‘s 2013 spy thriller faced a major ban
Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ was one of the most controversial films in Tamil cinema. When the film debuted, several Muslim organisations condemned it for misrepresenting their community. The makers were forced to postpone screenings in Tamil Nadu following the state government’s 15-day ban. The controversy also affected the film’s release in countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, which was eventually resolved through negotiations and edits before the film reached audiences.
‘Intinti Annamaya ‘ – 2013 Telugu film that never reached audiences
Directed by Raghavendra Rao, ‘Intinti Annamaya’ was ready for a theatrical release with the production work completed, but legal and creative challenges halted its progress. Disagreements between the producer and director led to the cessation of the film’s release just before its scheduled opening. The project was shelved, officially unreleased for years, even though promotional activities had already kicked off. The film is a classic example of how internal disputes can prevent a finished film from ever being seen by the public.
‘Sita Ramam ‘ – Dulquer Salmaan’s 2022 blockbuster that faced bans overseas
‘Sita Ramam,’ which was a massive commercial and critical hit in India, has run into censorship problems in some of the Gulf countries. The romantic drama starring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur was reportedly banned in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE over fears of its religious and geopolitical themes. The movie did well in theaters throughout India, but viewers in a number of overseas markets missed out because of the restrictions.
‘Annapoorani ‘ – Nayanthara starrer removed from Netflix after backlash
Nayanthara’s ‘Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food’ faced controversy soon after its OTT release on Netflix. Several Hindu organisations objected to scenes where the lead character, who belongs to a vegetarian family, is shown cooking meat, references to Lord Ram, and a second scene with namaz. The film was subsequently taken off Netflix in January 2024, making it one of the few South Indian movies removed from a streaming platform, following several complaints filed by the police and public criticism, which led the makers to apologize.
‘Turkish Tharkkam ‘ – 2024 Malayalam film temporarily pulled from theatres
The Malayalam film ‘Turkish Tharkkam,’ starring Lukman Avaran and Sunny Wayne, was voluntarily withdrawn by its makers after a short theatrical run. Shortly after its release in November 2024, allegations emerged that certain scenes had hurt the religious sentiments of a community. The producers briefly withdrew the film from cinemas to avoid controversy while they dealt with the concerns.
