Jyothika’s Defense of ‘Kanguva’ Sparks Controversy; Criticism from Singer Suchitra

The highly anticipated film Kanguva has sparked mixed reactions since its release. While the movie has managed to perform well at the box office, its reception among critics and audiences has been polarizing. Amidst this, actress Jyothika, wife of Suriya, stepped in to defend the film, a move that invited sharp criticism from singer and media personality Suchitra.

In an Instagram post, Suchitra expressed her disappointment with Jyothika’s comments supporting Kanguva. She stated, “I respected you before your marriage, but your recent post justifying this movie shocked me. Kanguva is a terrible film, and it’s frustrating to see you defend it just to support your husband. I’m more annoyed at Suriya for this.”

Suchitra further criticized Jyothika’s acknowledgment of the movie’s weak first half, questioning, “Does this mean viewers should pay for tickets and wait for the first 30 minutes to pass before it gets better? Even the fans didn’t say this. Are we the guinea pigs for your experimentation?”

Jyothika, in her earlier statement, had praised the film’s team, calling Kanguva a “unique cinematic experience.” She highlighted the movie’s visuals, the compelling fight led by women in the second half, and the outstanding performance of the child actor. She accused critics of deliberately ignoring these elements in favor of spreading negativity.

Suriya, too, faced trolling for a statement he made during the film’s promotion, where he claimed, “Most creators and directors in India would be blown away by certain scenes in this film.” The comment turned into a meme after the film’s release, especially as Kanguva received largely negative reviews on its opening day.

However, Suriya later clarified his remarks in an interview, explaining that he was merely appreciating director Siva’s craftsmanship. “Some scenes in the film are truly awe-inspiring. My words were meant to celebrate his work, not as something to be trolled,” he said.

Despite the backlash and mixed reviews, Kanguva continues to perform well commercially, proving its box office resilience even as it struggles to live up to the pre-release hype.