Dream Warrior Pictures, the banner behind Suriya's latest film Karuppu from filmmaker RJ Balaji, has released a statement, expressing regret for taking emminent composer Ilaiyaraaja's name for a satirical dialogue in the film.
Sharing their "respect and admiration" for the Maestro, they praised the veteran for his "extraordinary contribution to Indian cinema and music". The producers acknowledged that the dialogue in question "caused concern and has upset him." "We sincerely regret that the dialogue has resulted in such sentiments," they remarked.
The makers mentioned that there was "no intention to offend, hurt, or disrespect Ilaiyaraaja, his contribution, or his rights in any manner." They said it was formed as a part of a "broader satirical context" and not as a remark directed at him.
"However, we deeply value and respect his feelings and, as a gesture of our regard, we have decided to remove/modify the concerned portion in future versions and subsequent exploitations of the film," they added, noting, "We extend our sincere regards and continue to hold him in the highest respect."
The dialogue reportedly takes a subtle dig at Ilaiyaraaja's high-profile copyright disputes, aimed at protecting his intellectual property and royalties.
Meanwhile, Karuppu has been having a successful run at the box office since its release on Friday. It has entered the Rs 150 crore club at the worldwide box office and is continuing to draw crowds to theatres.
Karuppu stars Trisha as the female lead, reuniting with her Aaru (2005) co-star Suriya. The supporting cast includes Yogi Babu, Indrans, Sshivada, Swasika, Natty, Supreeth Reddy, and Anagha Maya Ravi. RJ Balaji also plays a key role in the film.
