Jyotika defends Suriya's 'Kanguva': Criticizes harsh reviews and calls out double standards in cinema criticism

Jyotika recently opened up about defending her husband Suriya's film Kanguva against harsh criticism. The film, which marked Suriya's latest release, faced negative responses from both critics and audiences. Jyotika, currently promoting her show 'Dabba Cartel', addressed the backlash in a YouTube interview with The Puja Talwar Show. She emphasized that she takes issue with how some bad films receive lenient reviews, while ''Kanguva' was criticized severely. Jyotika expressed her belief that despite the film’s flaws, it deserved a more balanced evaluation due to the unique effort put into its creation.

During the conversation, Jyotika discussed the tendency for cancel culture to prematurely dismiss an actor’s career. She shared, "I just have a problem with bad films. I have seen an immense number of commercial bad films down South that have done really well and have been reviewed large-heartedly. So when it came to my husband’s film, I felt it was reviewed quite harshly. Maybe some portions weren’t good, but overall, a lot of effort was put in. It was one of a kind. But when I saw harsher reviews for this film than for some pathetic ones, that got to me. I was more upset with the media for not being aware."

Following the film's negative reception, Jyotika shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, questioning the inconsistent standards in film criticism. She wrote, "I’m surprised by the negative reviews from certain fraternities. Many unintellectual, big-budget films with outdated stories and over-the-top action have been reviewed more kindly. Why overlook Kanguva's positives? The action sequences, the emotional narrative of love and betrayal—these deserve recognition. The negativity on day one, even before the first show was over, seemed like organized propaganda."

She concluded by encouraging the team, "Be proud, Team 'Kanguva'. Those commenting negatively are doing just that—and nothing else to uplift cinema." Directed by Siva, 'Kanguva' starred Suriya in dual roles alongside Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, and others. Despite its grand concept and scale, the film failed to make an impact at the box office and ended with less than Rs 110 crore worldwide.