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Criticism has largely stemmed from the Tamil nationalist group Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which has taken strong exception to certain elements in Kingdom.
Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom is durected by Gowtam Tinnanuri. (Photo: X)
The makers of Vijay Deverakonda’s recently released movie have issued an apology to the people of Tamil Nadu. This comes at a time when the film has triggered widespread protests in Tamil Nadu, with several groups accusing it of misrepresenting Tamil identity and hurting religious sentiments. Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, premiered globally on July 31 but has since become the focus of a growing controversy.
Kingdom Makers: ‘We Respect People Of Tamil Nadu’
On Wednesday, Sitara Entertainment, the production house of Vijay Deverakonda’s starrer, issued a statement and clarified that their intention was not to hurt anyone with their movie. “We would like to apologise if they have in any way hurt the sentiments of the people,” a part of the statement read. The makers also specified that their film is “fictional” and therefore, there was no intention to hurt anyone. “We respect the people of Tamil Nadu,” it added. Chedk out the full statement here:
Why Is Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom Facing Protests?
Criticism has largely stemmed from the Tamil nationalist group Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), which has taken strong exception to certain elements in the film. Members of the group claim Kingdom portrays Sri Lankan Tamils in a negative light. Further anger was directed at the film’s decision to name its antagonist ‘Murugan’, a name associated with one of Tamil Nadu’s most revered deities, Lord Murugan.
NTK condemned these creative choices, calling them deliberate and insensitive. According to the group, the Vijay Deverakonda starrer maligns both the identity and cultural history of Tamils. In response, protests were staged outside multiple theatres across the state, with party members demanding that Kingdom be banned from screening in Tamil Nadu.
Massive Protests Against Kingdom In Ramanathapuram
Recently, NTK supporters in Ramanathapuram gathered outside a cinema hall to obstruct the film’s screening. Protesters raised slogans and called for an immediate stop to the show. The situation escalated when police intervened to disperse the crowd, leading to a confrontation between law enforcement and demonstrators. A minor scuffle reportedly broke out during the standoff, prompting the deployment of additional forces to restore order. While no injuries have been reported, security remains heightened in the area to prevent further disturbances.
How Much Has Kingdom Earned?
According to the latest figures from the industry tracker Sacnilk, Kingdom earned just Rs 2.25 crore on Day 5, its lowest so far. The film had kicked off with a strong opening of Rs 18 crore on Thursday, but the weekend didn’t see any big jump. It collected Rs 7.5 crore on Saturday and Rs 8 crore on Sunday. With Monday and Tuesday showing a clear dip, Kingdom’s total box office collection now stands at Rs 43.15 crore.
Chirag Sehgal works as a Senior Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing …Read More
Chirag Sehgal works as a Senior Sub-Editor in the Entertainment team at News18.com. With an experience of five years in the media industry, he largely focuses on Indian television coverage. Apart from bringing … Read More
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