Suriya and the team of his upcoming film Kanguva have been actively engaging in promotional activities, including press interactions. During a recent promotional event in Bengaluru, however, the team encountered some uncomfortable questions from Kannada media reporters that left Suriya visibly irked.
One reporter questioned why Kanguva had chosen to clash with Kannada actor Shiva Raj Kumar’s film Bhairathi Ranagal instead of Rajinikanth’s Vettaiyan, which would have been a safer choice. Suriya, visibly frustrated, explained that the team opted for a Pan-Indian release and avoided Vettaiyan due to its expected dominance in multiple languages, which could disrupt Kanguva‘s release. He also cited examples of successful clashes such as Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to support his point, reassuring the success of both Kanguva and Bhairathi Ranagal even in a clash.
However, when the reporter countered by asking why Kanguva didn’t clash with Vettaiyan if both films could succeed in a duel, Suriya explained that Kanguva‘s release was delayed due to pending CGI work, a statement that contradicted his earlier comment that the film’s postponement was solely for Rajinikanth’s benefit.
The awkwardness continued when another reporter asked Suriya if he would assure more screens and theaters for a Kannada film in Tamil Nadu. Suriya, clearly uncomfortable, responded that he would try his best but could not control the distribution system, acknowledging the challenges faced by foreign-language films in securing theater space in Tamil Nadu.
These questions highlighted a broader issue within the industry, particularly the struggles faced by smaller-budget films in securing theater space in Tamil Nadu, an issue Suriya was likely aware of. This situation also reflects the growing tensions surrounding the Pan-Indian release strategy, which has led to embarrassing moments for actors. Recently, Kannada media reporters had also taken the opportunity to lecture Allu Arjun for arriving late to a venue, forcing the actor to apologize publicly.