Films were not Tamil cinema’s strongest suit in 2024, it can be argued. The year saw big-star vehicles cause disappointments, even as some smaller films managed to make an impact. Despite such a lacklustre year for Tamil cinema, there was no dearth of controversies in the industry. Some of these led to divided opinions online and in public discourse, which explains why they make our list of the biggest controversies of Tamil Cinema in 2024.
Beyond the Feud-Tale
Ahead of the release of her documentary, which chronicled her life as an actor and her wedding to Vignesh Shivan, Nayanthara called out Dhanush on social media for not providing permission to use footage from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan in the documentary. Nayanthara alleged that producer Dhanush demanded a compensation of Rs 10 crore for using three seconds of BTS footage in the trailer for her documentary. Claiming that it was recorded on her personal device and was already shared on social media, Nayanthara wrote a note accusing Dhanush of denying an NOC certificate for two long years. While a court verdict on the matter is still pending, the row has polarised opinions within the fraternity and elsewhere and sparked a debate over copyright laws.
Broadcasting Betrayal
Pon Ondru Kanden, directed by V Priya and starring Ashok Selvan, Vasanth Ravi, and Aishwarya Lekshmi, was initially made as a theatrical film. However, when Jio Studios, which produced the film along with Yuvan Shankar Raja, announced a television premiere for the film on Colors Tamil, it caught the cast and crew, along with Yuvan, by surprise. Vasanth Ravi took to social media to criticise the lack of communication and respect from the production house. While acknowledging the producer's authority over the film, he emphasised that the creators and actors deserve to be notified directly, rather than having to learn about it online. Subsequently, the film also had a direct premiere on Jio Cinema.
A Bittersweet Battle
During the pre-release event of Sathyam Sundaram (Meiyazhagan), Karthi made a remark about the Tirupati laddu, which became the talk of the town. Subsequently, actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan condemned Karthi, asking him not to make jokes about religious sentiments. The actor then apologised to Pawan Kalyan, clarifying that as a devotee of Lord Venkateswara, he respects traditions and meant no offense. The controversy began after Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu's report alleged that during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s regime, Tirupati laddu was made using beef fat and animal ghee, sparking public outrage. Pawan Kalyan further acknowledged the apology and wished Karthi for Meiyazhagan.
The Cut That Wasn’t
On the day of the release of Mazhai Pidikkatha Manithan, director Vijay Milton claimed that a creative decision was made without his consent. Vijay claimed that he didn't have a one-minute scene, which exposes too much about Vijay Antony's protagonist, added to the start of the film. He questioned how the scene was included in the film after the CBFC certification. A few days later, he clarified that the scene was removed from the film. However, there were some rumours that Vijay Antony was responsible for the confusion in the first place, which he later denied.
Identity Crisis On-Screen
After the release of Amaran, the members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) protested outside the production house Raaj Kamal Films International's office for the alleged negative portrayal of Muslims in the film. They also burnt an effigy of Kamal Haasan. Adding to the row was the representation of the lead character, Major Mukund Varadharajan, played by Sivakarthikeyan, which also became a big talking point. It did not go down well with a particular community. Ultimately, however, the film’s paramount success, alongside director Rajkumar Periasamy's clarification, put all debates and contentions to an end.
A Reel Tragedy
Another big controversy of the year, which meant intense trolling against Aishwarya Rajinikanth, came after Aishwarya claimed that the footage for an important portion of Lal Salaam was lost during production. She confessed the same after Lal Salaam's underwhelming performance at the box office, despite the Rajinikanth factor in the film. A hard disc with 21 days of footage went missing during post-production. Unable to reshoot everything, the team recreated key scenes and incorporated them into the final cut. While the missing footage has allegedly been recovered, Lal Salaam continues to evade streaming platforms, leaving fans in suspense about if or when the extended director’s cut will ever be released.
Out of Step with Justice
Choreographer Jani Master, who faced serious sexual assault charges involving a minor, was set to receive a National Film Award for his work in Thiruchitrambalam. However, due to the gravity of the allegations and the related legal proceedings, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting suspended his award and withdrew his invitation to the National Film Awards ceremony. Jani Master faced multiple charges, including sexual abuse, criminal intimidation, and assault against a minor colleague, and had reportedly confessed to the alleged crimes. The suspension of his award serves as a stark reminder that artistic merit cannot overshadow the gravity of criminal accusations.
Reviewing the Right to Review
The Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA) recently petitioned the Madras High Court to ban reviews on social media and YouTube for the first three days after a film's release, citing concerns about their potential negative impact on its commercial performance. The petition was sparked by backlash over negative feedback for films such as Indian 2 and Kanguva. The association argued that such reviews could deter viewers from watching the film in theatres. However, the court rejected the petition, citing concerns that such a ban would infringe on freedom of speech and expression. The court's rejection reaffirms that freedom of speech cannot be compromised, even under commercial pressures.
A War of Words (Literally)
Ahead of the release of Amaran, actor Sai Pallavi faced social media backlash after an old interview resurfaced, in which she described terrorism as a relative term, suggesting that Pakistanis might view the Indian Army as the aggressor and vice versa. Subsequently, she was branded "anti-national" by some on social media. Critics also questioned her casting in Amaran, a film based on the life of martyr Major Mukund Varadarajan. However, many people supported her views, clarifying that her comments were taken out of context and emphasising her intention to highlight differing perspectives. Context is often lost in social media discourse, and clarity and reason are needed more than ever.
Whose Song Is It Anyway?
Ilaiyaraaja issued legal notices to the makers of Manjummel Boys and Coolie for the unauthorised use of his songs. He claimed that the song ‘Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan’ from Gunaa (1991) was used without his permission in Manjummel Boys, despite it being credited in the title cards. After negotiations, the makers reportedly paid Rs 60 lakh as compensation. Regarding Coolie, he objected to the inclusion of ‘Va Va Pakkam Va’ from Thanga Magan (1983) in the promo, demanding prior approval or its removal. However, according to reports, Ilaiyaraaja did not hold the copyright to the song, as its rights were transferred from Echo to Sony Music South and later to Sun Pictures. In a Madras High Court hearing in April, the judge ruled that Ilaiyaraaja could not claim exclusive ownership of the song, as the lyrics were penned by someone else.