Actor and producer Jyotika recently addressed the criticism surrounding her husband Suriya's film, Kanguva, which faced negative reviews from both critics and audiences upon its release last year. During an appearance on The Puja Talwar Show, the 46-year-old actress expressed her frustration over what she perceived as 'selective criticism' by the media and audience.
Jyotika highlighted that while many big-budget films with subpar content often escape harsh critiques, Kanguva was singled out despite the immense effort invested in its making. She remarked, "When it came to my husband’s film, I felt it was reviewed quite harshly. Maybe there were portions that weren’t good; but overall, a lot of effort was put into it."
She further added, "It was one of a kind. So, when I saw harsher reviews for Kanguva than for some pathetic ones, that got to me. I was more upset with the media for not being fair."
Following the film's release, Jyotika penned a lengthy note on social media, addressing the negative feedback. While she acknowledged certain flaws, such as issues with the sound design, she questioned the disproportionately severe reviews compared to other mainstream films that perpetuate outdated narratives and clichés.
Kanguva, directed by Siva, was a pan-India release made on a substantial budget of ₹300–350 crore. Suriya portrayed the role of a tribal leader, with Bobby Deol making his Tamil debut as the antagonist and Disha Patani also featuring in the cast.
Despite the high expectations, the film underperformed at the box office, grossing approximately ₹96–106 crore worldwide in its lifetime run. This made it one of the significant box office disappointments in Tamil cinema for the year.
Jyotika's defense of Kanguva sheds light on the broader discourse about media biases and the challenges faced by filmmakers in navigating critical receptions.
