The Tamil Film Active Producers Council has issued a strong statement blaming audience reviews and film critics for the underwhelming box office performance of recent Tamil films, including Kanguva, Vettaiyan, and Indian 2. The council has called for stricter measures against YouTube channels conducting public reviews immediately after theatrical screenings, citing their detrimental impact on the industry.
Backlash Over Kanguva
The controversy follows the release of Suriya’s Kanguva, which faced heavy criticism for what audiences described as a lacklustre storyline with loud jarring sounds all through the film. Despite significant pre-release hype, the film struggled to perform at the box office, earning less than ₹90 crore in its first six days. Negative reviews on social media and YouTube reportedly played a key role in the film’s slow collection, with audiences expressing disappointment over the execution and narrative.
Producers Council Speaks Out
In a letter written in Tamil and later translated, the council condemned what it called “tasteless and hostile” reviews that have harmed major releases in 2024. The council highlighted a troubling trend of personal attacks disguised as film criticism, urging reviewers to focus on the films themselves rather than targeting producers, directors, or actors.
“Our association strongly condemns the recent trend of personal attacks and incitement of violence under the guise of film reviews,” the letter stated. “Critics have the right to point out the strengths and weaknesses of a film, but this must not translate into spreading hatred or hostility on public platforms.”
Tamil Film Active Producers Council condemns tasteless movie reviews. They also request theater owners to not allow YouTube channels to cover public reviews inside theater premises. In 2024, Indian 2, Vettaiyan and Kanguva are affected by such reviews, say the council pic.twitter.com/tGDLFrKOJa
— Rajasekar (@sekartweets) November 20, 2024
The council took particular issue with the practice of conducting “public reviews” outside theatre premises during premiere screenings and first-day-first-show events. They accused YouTubers of using clickbait headlines and sensationalist commentary to attract attention, which they argued has significantly damaged films like Kanguva, Vettaiyan, and Indian 2.
“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,” the council remarked, drawing a parallel between the impact of exaggerated criticism in different industries.
While acknowledging the right to critique films, the council called for reviews to be constructive and balanced, avoiding personal attacks or baseless negativity. “Critics have the full right to express their views, but this must not translate into spreading hatred on public platforms out of personal vendettas,” the letter noted.
The producers also pointed out that while honest criticism is valuable, the growing trend of negativity and sensationalism has led to undue hostility toward filmmakers and actors.
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