TLDR: Actor Dhanush has voiced strong objections to the AI-altered ending of his 2013 film ‘Raanjhanaa’, re-released in Tamil as ‘Ambikapathy’. The modified climax, which changes the fate of his character, has also drawn criticism from director Aanand L. Rai, while Eros International, the production house, defends the alteration as a “lawful and creative reinterpretation.”
Actor Dhanush has publicly expressed his profound distress over the re-release of his 2013 Hindi film ‘Raanjhanaa’, titled ‘Ambikapathy’ in Tamil, featuring an AI-altered climax. The original film saw Dhanush’s character, Kundan, die, but the re-released Tamil version utilizes artificial intelligence to present an alternate ending where Kundan survives. This modification has sparked significant controversy within the film industry.
Dhanush took to social media, posting under the caption “For the love of cinema,” to convey his dismay. While refraining from directly naming Eros International, the production house responsible for the re-release, his stance against the use of AI to modify a film’s original narrative was unequivocal. “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. This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago,” Dhanush stated in his post on X (formerly Twitter).
This sentiment is echoed by the film’s director, Aanand L. Rai, who had previously condemned Eros International for altering the climax without his consent. Rai described the alteration as “devastating,” stating, “To watch Raanjhanaa, a film born out of care, conflict, collaboration, and creative risk, be altered, repackaged, and re-released without my knowledge or consent has been nothing short of devastating. What makes it worse is the complete ease and casualness with which it’s been done.”
Dhanush further emphasized the broader implications of such practices, stating, “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.”
In response to the backlash, Eros International Media Limited issued a statement defending their actions. They assert that the re-release of ‘Raanjhanaa/Ambikapathy’ with an AI-assisted ending is “legally compliant, transparently labelled, and artistically guided creative edition intended for Tamil-speaking audiences.” The company clarified that this version “does not replace or alter the original Raanjhanaa, which remains untouched and widely available across all platforms.” Eros views this as part of a “global and longstanding tradition in cinema of offering alternate edits, localised adaptations, and anniversary re-releases.” As the sole financier, producer, and rights holder of the film, Eros claims full control over all intellectual property, moral rights, and derivative rights under Indian Copyright Law. They also countered claims regarding financial investment by Aanand L. Rai in Dhanush’s casting, stating such comments are “factually inaccurate and legally inconsequential.”
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The controversy highlights a growing debate within the entertainment industry regarding the ethical and legal boundaries of using artificial intelligence to modify existing artistic works, particularly without the explicit consent of the original creators.
