After the release of Kanguva, Tamil star Suriya’s ambitious fantasy epic, the film has become the subject of heated discussions. Directed by Siva, the grand saga, set over a thousand years, was met with disappointment from both critics and audiences.
As the backlash against Kanguva grew, Jyotika, Suriya’s wife, took to social media to defend both the actor and the film, urging audiences to recognise the scale and effort involved in the project. However, the situation intensified when Neha Gnanavel, wife of the film’s producer KE Gnanavel Raja, joined the conversation on X (formerly Twitter).
In her response, Neha defended the film and addressed criticism of the character Angela, played by Disha Patani, dismissing the idea that her role was merely to “look pretty.” She emphasized that the film was about much more than just that.
Neha Gnanavel’s comments on Angela’s character in Kanguva sparked backlash online, with many accusing her of downplaying the role and reinforcing negative stereotypes of female characters in films. Responding to criticism about Angela’s limited role, Neha defended the character, saying, ‘Because Angela’s character is not the whole movie kanguva is about!!! Angela can’t be in 2.5 hours of film!! Basic🤦🏽♀️ so yes, she was there to look pretty!!! It’s one brain and perspective (director) presenting to crores of audiences! We welcome criticism not targeted propaganda!!’
Kanguva, with a budget exceeding Rs 350 crore, was filmed across various countries and locations in India. The epic stars Suriya, Disha Patani, Natarajan Subramaniam, Jagapathi Babu, and Yogi Babu, with Bobby Deol playing the antagonist. Set 1,500 years ago, the film showcases grand battle scenes and impressive visuals. Directed by Siva, Kanguva is a high-budget fantasy drama that has stirred controversy for its storytelling and execution