Director Vignesh Shivan and actor-producer Nayanthara are facing mounting criticism after choreographer Jani Master, who was arrested in 2024 on sexual assault charges involving a minor, was revealed to be part of their upcoming film Love Insurance Kompany, or LIK.
Vignesh Shivan shares still with Jani Master from LIK set, calls him ‘Sweeet master ji’. The backlash intensified after Vignesh reshared a post from Jani, calling him "Sweeet master ji" and praising his "vibe" on the sets. This marked the first official confirmation of Jani’s involvement in the film, which is being co-produced by Nayanthara.
Jani, whose full name is Shaik Jani Basha, was arrested in September 2024 after a former colleague accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a minor. A case was registered against him under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act also being applied. He was released on conditional bail a month later. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting also suspended his National Award for Best Choreography following the charges.
The public response to Vignesh’s endorsement has been swift and sharp. Social media users condemned the filmmaker for publicly supporting an accused predator, with many also calling out Nayanthara for her silence. Critics pointed to her past advocacy against abuse and questioned the contradiction in her current stance.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada was among those who responded strongly, writing: “Jani is out on conditional bail involving a minor’s sexual assault. We as a people seem to love ‘talented’ offenders and will keep promoting them and keeping them in positions of power which the offenders use to harangue the women more - “See nothing will happen to me.” It is just how we are. Sweeeeeet!”
LIK stars Pradeep Ranganathan, SJ Suryah, and Krithi Shetty in lead roles. The extensive supporting cast of LIK includes Yogi Babu, Mysskin, Seeman, Anandaraj, Malavika, Sunil Reddy, Gouri Kishan, and Shah Rah. The technical crew contributing to the film includes composer Anirudh Ravichander, cinematographer Ravi Varman, and editor Pradeep E Ragav. It is slated to hit theatres on September 18.
