When it comes to encouraging new talent and small budget films, actor Vijay Sethupathi often offers a hand. However, sometimes the move takes a wrong turn, like with today’s incident. The actor’s friend and director Anandaraj recently announced that the first look of his movie Kadalai Poda Ponnu Venum will be released by Vijay Sethupathi.
Ahead of the first-look release, the team advertised the film with posters all across Chennai. The teaser posters featured the text, “_____ Poda Ponnu Venum?” which in Tamil slang carries quite vulgar and obscene meanings. Many noticed these posters and raised objections over its obscenity. Meanwhile, the issue came up on social media, and people asked the actor not to post about and encourage such a movie. After getting to know about the issue, Vijay Sethupathi refused to release the first look and also issued a statement regarding this.
“The director has worked with me when I was doing the serial Penn. He started two movies but he couldn’t complete them. He later told me he had started a new movie and requested me to release the first look. I also agreed, believing in good intentions and to help him out. I wasn’t aware that such a poster would be made for its promotion.”
“I called and admonished him, gave him a strong talking to. I feel like I should stop releasing first-looks. The actions of a few ends up hurting a lot of people, this is something to be concerned about.”
Meanwhile, director Anandaraj also released a video apologizing for the insensitive promotion, and said Vijay Sethupathi had no connection with his film. In his video, he said, “We made the poster to create curiosity about the movie. But we did not intended to hurt anyone through this. Vijay Sethupathi helped me in this film’s promotion. It’s just a friendly gesture from him. He has no connection with this issue.”
Director P Anantharajan statement on #KadalaPodaPonnuVenum ! pic.twitter.com/m7yaqEphK8
— Done Channel (@DoneChannel1) February 14, 2019
He also said, “This movie is really a good film, a romantic love story. I also apologize if this poster promotion hurt anyone. Thank you!”
Meanwhile, an organisation called Indian Makkal Mandram, has sent a complaint to the Chennai commissioner seeking action against the people responsible for the poster.
