As Santhanam gears up for the release of his much-anticipated horror comedy Devil’s Double Next Level on May 16, controversy has cast a shadow over the film’s pre-release buzz. What was meant to be a fun, spooky entertainer has now found itself in the eye of a storm due to a devotional track featured in one of its songs. With political figures demanding its removal and massive compensation, the team is facing unexpected heat just a day before the release.
Santhanam is all set to headline Devil’s Double Next Level, a horror comedy directed by Prem Anand. Backed by an ensemble cast that includes Geethika Thivari, Selvaraghavan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Nizhalgal Ravi, Rajendran, Kasthuri, Redin Kingsley, and Yashika Anand, the film has been riding high on promotions and buzz. But just days before its release, the makers are now battling a major controversy involving one of its songs.
The trouble began with the release of Kissa 47, a song from the film that mixes a western track with the devotional chant Srinivasa Govinda Srivenkatesa Govinda. The track, composed by ofRO and written by Kelithee, dropped as a lyric video quickly racked up over lakhs of views on YouTube.
At a recent press meet while promoting the film, Santhanam had said that he is a devoted follower of Perumal and had no intention of offending anyone. He had clarified that the intention behind the song was purely devotional.
According to India Today, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy, who is also a board member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), has taken strong offense to the remix. Along with Janasena Tirupati party-in-charge Kiran Royal, he condemned the use of the revered chant in what they described as an inappropriate musical setting. Reddy issued a defamation notice to actor Santhanam and Niharika Entertainments on May 14, demanding the immediate removal of the song from the film and all social media platforms.
The notice claims that the lyrics have hurt Hindu sentiments and warned that the song could incite disharmony. Further escalating the matter, Reddy has demanded a compensation of Rs 100 crore if the song is not removed. Devil’s Double Next Level is set to hit theatres on May 16. Whether the film's release will be affected by the ongoing demands remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: what started as a horror comedy has now become a real-life drama for the makers.
Santhanam is all set to headline Devil’s Double Next Level, a horror comedy directed by Prem Anand. Backed by an ensemble cast that includes Geethika Thivari, Selvaraghavan, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Nizhalgal Ravi, Rajendran, Kasthuri, Redin Kingsley, and Yashika Anand, the film has been riding high on promotions and buzz. But just days before its release, the makers are now battling a major controversy involving one of its songs.
The trouble began with the release of Kissa 47, a song from the film that mixes a western track with the devotional chant Srinivasa Govinda Srivenkatesa Govinda. The track, composed by ofRO and written by Kelithee, dropped as a lyric video quickly racked up over lakhs of views on YouTube.
At a recent press meet while promoting the film, Santhanam had said that he is a devoted follower of Perumal and had no intention of offending anyone. He had clarified that the intention behind the song was purely devotional.
According to India Today, BJP leader Bhanuprakash Reddy, who is also a board member of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD), has taken strong offense to the remix. Along with Janasena Tirupati party-in-charge Kiran Royal, he condemned the use of the revered chant in what they described as an inappropriate musical setting. Reddy issued a defamation notice to actor Santhanam and Niharika Entertainments on May 14, demanding the immediate removal of the song from the film and all social media platforms.
The notice claims that the lyrics have hurt Hindu sentiments and warned that the song could incite disharmony. Further escalating the matter, Reddy has demanded a compensation of Rs 100 crore if the song is not removed. Devil’s Double Next Level is set to hit theatres on May 16. Whether the film's release will be affected by the ongoing demands remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: what started as a horror comedy has now become a real-life drama for the makers.
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