As Suriya's Kanguva faces backlash, Tamil Film Producers Council condemns negative movie reviews - 'Personal attacks must be curbed’

Suriya’s Kanguva was hit with major backlash from fans and viewers who were disappointed by the film’s execution, criticizing the makers for hyping a mediocre storyline. The negative reviews the film garnered led to the movie’s slow performance at the box office, with the film even struggling to mint Rs 90 crores even after 6 days of its theatrical run.

Tamil Film Active Producers Council issues letter in support of ‘responsible reviewing’

Amidst the ongoing debacle, the Tamil Film Active Producers Council recently issued a letter condemning the tasteless reviews posted by users, which they believe contributed to the significant downfall of the film. Highlighting the negative backlash faced by the 2024-released films Kanguva, Indian 2, and Vettaiyan, the association stressed the growing misuse of media platforms to promote hatred against makers under the guise of film reviews.

In a letter read in Tamil, the association stated (translated), “Our association strongly condemns the recent trend of personal attacks and incitement of violence under the guise of film reviews. While every critic has the right to point out the strengths and weaknesses of a film, they must ensure that the criticism focuses only on the film. We strongly condemn the personal attacks on producers, directors, or actors, and the use of reviews as a platform for hatred and hostility.”

Slamming the practice of conducting 'public reviews' right outside premiere screenings and FDFS shows, the association strongly raised concerns against YouTubers promoting clickbait headlines to gain traction, which has significantly damaged films like Kanguva and Vettaiyan.

Also read: Kanguva box office collection day 6: Suriya struggles to maintain momentum, earns ₹60 crore in India

Drawing a comparison, the association noted, “No one reviews a restaurant by declaring their life has been ruined by one bad meal. If such extreme comments were made, those restaurants would take strong action.”

Calling for responsible reviewing, the association welcomed unbiased reviews and urged critics to present balanced views, avoiding personal attacks or baseless negativity.

"Critics have the full right to express their views on films, but this must not translate into spreading hatred on public platforms out of personal vendettas," the statement noted.

While Kanguva was the latest victim of negative backlash, Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan and Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 were the other two Tamil films that faced massive negative reviews after their release. While audiences have been taking the latest criticism as a shade at ‘honest reviews,’ many viewers agree with certain audiences exploding with negativity thrown upon the actors who starred in the films. Many audiences agreed with the association in condemning the bullying of makers and actors in the name of reviewing.

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