It’s not always smooth sailing for the filmmaker when releasing the movie. Very few South Indian movies face the unexpected trouble of releasing in theaters or on streaming platforms. Here are some films that were banned or withdrawn for various reasons. Here are five popular South Indian films that ran into trouble after their release or were pulled from the screens due to controversy.
‘Vishwaroopam ‘- Kamal Haasan The 2013 spy thriller faced a major ban
Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ is one of the most controversial films in Tamil cinema. When the film debuted, many Muslim organizations condemned it for misrepresenting their community. The makers were forced to postpone screenings in Tamil Nadu following a 15-day ban by the state government. The controversy also affected the film’s release in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, which was eventually resolved through negotiations and edits before the film reached audiences.
‘Intiti Annamaya: ‘ – 2013 Telugu film that didn’t reach the audience
Directed by Raghavendra Rao, ‘Intinti Annamaya’ is all set for a theatrical release with production work, but legal and creative challenges have stalled its progress. Disagreements between the producer and director led to the halting of the film’s release before its scheduled opening. The project has been shelved, not officially released for years, although promotional activities have already begun. The film is a classic example of how internal disputes can prevent a finished film from being seen by the public.
‘Sita Rama – Dulquer Salmaan’s 2022 blockbuster facing bans overseas
‘Sita Ramam’, which was a huge commercial and critical hit in India, had censorship problems in some Gulf countries. The romantic drama starring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur has reportedly been banned in countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE due to fears over its religious and geopolitical themes. The movie did well in theaters across India, but audiences in many overseas markets lost out due to bans.
‘Annapoorani: ‘ – Nayanthara starrer pulled from Netflix after backlash
Nayanthara’s ‘Annapoorani. Food Goddess’ faced controversy soon after its OTT release on Netflix. Several Hindu organizations objected to the scenes where the lead character, who belongs to a vegetarian family, is shown cooking meat, references to Lord Ram, and the second scene with namaz. The film was subsequently pulled from Netflix in January 2024, making it one of the few South Indian films to be pulled from a streaming platform, following several police complaints and public criticism, leading the makers to issue an apology.
‘Turkish Tharkkam – 2024 Malayalam: film temporarily removed from theaters
Malayalam movie ‘Turkish Tharkkam,’ starring Lukman Avaran and Sunny Wayne, has been voluntarily withdrawn by its makers after a short theatrical run. Shortly after its release in November 2024, allegations surfaced that some scenes had hurt the religious sentiments of a community. The producers briefly withdrew the film from theaters to avoid controversy while they dealt with the concerns.