Gowtam Tinnanuri’s film Kingdom, starring Vijay Deverakonda, Satyadev, Venkitesh, and Bhagyashri Borse, has come under fire for its depiction of Sri Lankan Tamils as villains. The pro-Tamil group Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) strongly objected to the portrayal, leading to protests in Trichy where demonstrators tore down posters and disrupted screenings of the movie. Amid this controversy, a fake apology letter supposedly from the film’s producers, Sithara Entertainments, began circulating on social media.
The producers or their representatives have not issued any official statements or addressed the protests publicly. However, the letter that surfaced online claimed, “We respect the sentiments of the Tamil people and assure that no scenes in the movie intend to hurt local sentiments. The story is fictional, as stated in the movie’s disclaimer. If anyone is offended, we regret it and kindly ask for your support.”
Despite this, a spokesperson for Sithara Entertainments told Hindustan Times that the apology letter is fake and confirmed that the production house has not released any such statement. When questioned directly, the representative simply stated, “It’s fake.”
Meanwhile, the producers are moving forward with plans to release Kingdom in Sri Lanka. They announced on social media that the film will hit theaters there on August 8, sharing a list of cinemas where it will be screened.
The NTK’s protests have been intense, especially in places like Ramanathapuram, where footage shows protesters climbing onto a theater roof to tear down posters despite a police presence. The group is also upset that the antagonist, played by Venkitesh, bears the name of Lord Murugan, which they find disrespectful. The protests highlight the sensitivity around how Sri Lankan Tamils are portrayed in the film and the strong reactions it has sparked.
