Actor Vijay Deverakonda's latest release, Kingdom, has found itself at the receiving end of severe backlash after a section of Tamil Nadu's population accused it of showing Eelam Tamils (Sri Lankan Tamils) in a negative light. Protests have erupted across the state, and members of certain political factions were seen tearing down posters of Kingdom and demanding a ban on the film.
Kingdom released in theatres on July 31. After watching it, people belonging to the Eelam Tamil community took offense to the representation of the clan in the film, and demanded an apology as well as a ban. Members of the Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) were seen hitting the streets and tearing down posters of the film to show their dissent.
Not just that, but they also warned theatre oweners in several regions of Tamil Nadu against screening the film, and blocked the entry points, to discourage the audience from watching the film. As the situation escalated, local police had to intervene and disperse the crowd in multiple locations across the state.
NTK members claimed that Kingdom maligned the history of Tamilians. Not just that, but some also objected to the antagonist being named after Tamil deity Lord Murugan.
The makers of Kingdom are yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Kingdom, starring Vijay as the protagonist and Satyadev as the antagonist, is set against the backdrop of 1990's Sri Lanka. In the film, Vijay's character, who is an undercover cop, is on his personal mission to find his brother (Satyadev) in Sri Lanka. It has been directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri.
The film kicked off with Rs 18 crore at the box office on its first day, but it soon fell flat, and after six days, it has managed to make Rs 44.40 crore.
