Actor Soori has released an urgent plea to audiences, fans and film lovers to give up piracy and support filmmakers, actors and the crew behind it by watching movies in theatres as a respect to those who created them.

In a lengthy post on X, the actor underlined that a film is not just a form of entertainment alone, but a culmination of many dreams and heartfelt efforts.

"These words are not just for my film alone. Behind every film, there is the work, sacrifice, belief, and care of more than a hundred people," he said.

He further added, "Whether a film succeeds or fails… it is a journey. That journey is filled with pain, joy, and hope. After all this effort, when someone downloads it illegally online and proudly shares it, it breaks our hearts. For that one ‘view’, we are destroying years of someone’s hard work."

Highlighting the importance of films and how it communicates pertinent messages to the society, Soori said that when audiences are resorting to piracy, they are disrespecting their selfless hard work. Calling it "inhumane", he urged everyone to act responsibly. "If each of us acts with responsibility, the film industry can rise even higher," he said.

Soori was recently seen in Prasanth Pandiyaraj's Maaman, where he starred alongside Aishwarya Lekshmi, Swasika, Geetha Kailasam and Rajkiran. Up next, he is awaiting the release of director Ram's long-awaited Yezhu Kadal Yezhu Malai, which also stars Nivin Pauly and Anjali in lead roles and Mandaadi, directed by Mathimaran Pugazhendi.