It’s not always smooth sailing for filmmakers when a movie comes out. Few South Indian films run into unexpected trouble when released in theaters or on streaming platforms. Here are some of the movies that were banned or withdrawn for various reasons.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 screens amid controversy.
‘Vishwarupam ‘ – Kamal Hassan 2013 spy thriller faces major ban
Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam is one of the most controversial films in Tamil cinema. When the film premiered, some Muslim groups condemned it as misrepresenting their community. The producers were forced to postpone the release in Tamil Nadu after the Tamil Nadu government imposed a 15-day ban. The controversy, which also affected the film’s release in countries such as Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, was eventually resolved through negotiations and editing before the film reached audiences.
‘intintianamaya ” – 2013 Telugu movie that was never released
Intinti Annamaya, directed by Raghavendra Rao, is ready for a theatrical release with production completed, but legal and creative challenges have hampered its progress. Disagreement between the producers and director resulted in the film being halted before its scheduled release. Although a promotional campaign had begun, the project was shelved and not officially released for years. The film is a prime example of how internal disputes can prevent a finished film from being seen by the public.
‘Sita Rama ” – Dulquer Salmaan’s 2022 blockbuster faces ban overseas
Sita Ramam was a huge commercial success and critical acclaim in India, but faced censorship issues in some Gulf countries. The romantic drama starring Dulquer Salmaan and Mrunal Thakur has reportedly been banned in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates over concerns about its religious and geopolitical themes. The film performed well in theaters across India, but audiences in many overseas markets missed out due to restrictions.
‘Annapolani ” – Nayanthara star removed from Netflix due to backlash
Nayanthara’s Annapolani: The Goddess of Food faced controversy soon after its OTT release on Netflix. Some Hindu organizations objected to scenes showing the protagonist from a vegetarian family cooking meat, references to Lord Ram and a second scene with namaz. The film was subsequently removed from Netflix in January 2024, becoming one of the few South Indian films to be removed from the streaming platform, following multiple police complaints, public criticism and an apology from the producer.
‘turkish takam ‘ – 2024 Malayalam This film has been temporarily withdrawn from theaters
Malayalam film Turkish Tharkkam starring Lukman Avaran and Sunny Wayne has been voluntarily withdrawn by the producers after a brief run. Soon after the film was released in November 2024, there were allegations that certain scenes had hurt the religious sentiments of the community. Producers temporarily pulled the film from theaters to avoid controversy while dealing with these issues.
