Nayanthara and Jai's recent movie 'Annapoorani' is embroiled in controversy. The film, directed by debutant Nilesh Krishnaa, has been accused of offending religious sentiments and promoting 'Love Jihad.' The film has sparked outrage due to a controversial comment related to Lord Ram.
Jai's character, Farhaan, is said to have misinterpreted the Valmiki Ramayana, implying that Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Mata Sita consumed meat during their exile.
Additionally, another scene in the movie sparked outrage. Nayanthara's character is seen covering her head with a black cloth to perform Namaz before cooking biryani. This action was in response to a memory triggered by her friend, who revealed that the secret to cooking delicious biryani was performing Namaz.
Ramesh Solanki, Hindu activist and former Shiv Sena member made a statement on X (formerly Twitter) and filed a police complaint against Nayanthara, Jai, Nilesh, and producers Jatin Sethi, R Ravindran, and Punit Goenka, Zee Studios Chief Business Officer Shariq Patel and the head of Netflix India, Monika Shergill.
Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food' stars Nayanthara in the role of an aspiring chef who defies her mother's warnings to participate in the reality show 'India's Best Chef.' The film is a joint production by Jatin Sethi and R Ravindran and features a cast including Jai, Sathyaraj, Redin Kingsley, Suresh Chakravarthy, Renuka, and KS Ravikumar. Thaman S composed the music, while Sathyan Sooryan served as the cinematographer.
Nayanthara received training from a professional chef for her role, and 'Annapoorani' also marks her reunion with Jai after they collaborated in the 2013 film 'Raja Rani.'
'Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food' was released in theatres on December 1, 2023, and received a somewhat tepid response from the audience. Nearly a month later, on December 29, the movie had its digital premiere on Netflix.