Even before cameras have started rolling, Jr NTR and director Trivikram Srinivas' next film has found itself at the centre of a controversy over its apparent depiction of Lord Murugan.
The issue escalated after Tamil politician and Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman, on Sunday, demanded that the film be banned in Tamil Nadu if its makers proceed with what he called a "distortion" of Tamil history and culture. But why is he demanding a Tamil Nadu ban on Jr NTR's next with Trivikram?
The debate began on June 29, when producer Naga Vamsi officially announced the much-anticipated collaboration between Jr NTR and Trivikram. Along with a poster widely believed to reference Lord Murugan (also known as Karthikeya), the announcement carried the caption: "Born in the North. Forged in the Heartland. Worshipped in the South. Now... A tale destined to belong to the universe."
Although the makers did not confirm the film's subject, the artwork and tagline led many social media users to conclude that it was based on Lord Murugan. The poster also features a verse in Sanskrit that has been identified to be taken from Adi Shankaracharya's Subrahmanya Bhujangam, written on Lord Murugan.
The phrase "Born in the North" quickly drew criticism from several Tamil users, who argued that it misrepresented the deity's deep cultural and historical association with Tamil tradition.
A day after the debate intensified online, Seeman issued a detailed statement on X, accusing the makers of attempting to rewrite the history of Lord Murugan. Calling the reported depiction "shocking", he argued that Murugan has always been intrinsically linked to Tamil identity and civilisation.
In his statement, Seeman alleged that communities without their own indigenous traditions had historically appropriated Tamil deities, including Murugan, Sivan, Kannan, Thirumal and Kotravai. Stressing that Murugan occupies a central place in Tamil culture, he declared, "Tamil is Murugan; Murugan is Tamil; the two are inseparable."
He also warned the filmmakers against portraying Murugan as having been born in northern India. "I warn that the film crew must immediately abandon their attempts to fabricate and impose fictional tales—such as claiming Lord Muruga was born in the northern plains—under the guise of art. Failure to do so will result in facing the most severe repercussions," he wrote.
Seeman further urged the Tamil Nadu government to prevent the film's release in the state if the makers did not alter the alleged depiction, arguing that its release could hurt public sentiment and potentially create law-and-order issues.
Neither Jr NTR, Trivikram Srinivas nor producer Naga Vamsi has publicly addressed the controversy. The film is yet to begin production and has not been officially titled, although industry reports suggest it may be called God of War.
Apart from the announcement poster and tagline, the makers have not revealed any story details or confirmed that the film is based on Lord Murugan. Nevertheless, the project has already generated widespread discussion online, with supporters and critics debating the interpretation of the promotional material. As of now, the filmmakers have remained silent on the demands for changes or a ban.