Mumbai: The film Raanjhanaa, released in 2013, became a huge hit. It made Dhanush a Bollywood star and gave the audience a powerful love story. Directed by Aanand L. Rai, the film also starred Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub. The stories, songs and acting have won the hearts of people. It changed the lives of many actors and brought a fresh kind of storytelling to Indian films.
Now, 12 years later, the film is back in theaters. The Tamil version, called Ambikapathy, was re-released on August 1st, but this time the film ends differently and began to have a big debate.
AI creates a new climax
In the original film, Danush's character Kundang dies in a hospital. This sad ending with Kundan's final monologue has become one of the most emotional scenes in Bollywood. However, in the re-released Tamil version, the new ending made with AI shows that the kundan sits with his eyes open. His friends Bindiya and Murali are very happy to see him alive. The theatre crowd cheered, applauded, hissed, and celebrated a happy twist.
Director Anand L. Rai isn't happy
Many fans loved the new AI ending, but the film's director Aanand L. Rai did not. He shared on social media that there was no role in this new version. He said the ending was changed without permission. He called it “injustice” and said seeing his film changed in this way hurt him. He even asked to remove his name from this version. He denounced the film's current owners, Upswing Entertainment and Eros International, and changed the film just to make money.
On social media, fans are split. Some are happy to see the kundan alive. They feel it has given them emotional peace. Others find the original ending perfect and full of meaning. They say that not every story needs a happy ending.
