‘This Is Not the Film I Committed to’

After director Aanand L Rai expressed strong disapproval of the AI-altered climax in the re-released version of his 2013 Raanjhanaa (Ambikapathy in Tamil), lead actor Dhanush has now condemned the modified ending, saying it deviates from the film’s original emotional core and artistic vision. (In the AI-altered version, Dhanush’s character Kundan survives instead of dying as in the original film.)

On Sunday, Dhanush posted a statement on his social media handles titled ‘For the love of cinema.’ “The re-release of Raanjhanaa with an AI-altered climax has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection,” he wrote.

“This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago. The use of AI to alter films or content is a deeply concerning precedent for both art and artists. It threatens the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema. I sincerely hope that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent such practices in the future,” he added.

Dhanush’s reaction comes days after the re-release was promoted as a “creative reimagining” by Eros Media World, the film’s original producer.