Netflix has removed an Indian film, Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food, from its streaming service after the Hindu right wing protested against the movie, BBC News reported.

The Tamil-language film was removed at its “licensor’s request”, the American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service said.

The movie stars actor Nayanthara as a Hindu Brahmin woman aspiring to become a chef. Her character Annapoorani is shown opposing her family’s religious beliefs and eating meat and learning to cook it.

Many Brahmins do not eat meat.

Several members of the Hindu organisations protested against the portrayal of the character and other scenes in the movie. They have also opposed scenes where the lead character offers namaz before cooking biryani.

A scene where a Muslim character cites that the Hindu god Ram ate meat has not gone well with some Hindus.

A police case has also been filed in Madhya Pradesh state against Nayanthara and two others associated with the film.

In the past, many hard-line Hindu groups have blamed many movies and shows for insulting religious sentiments. The cast and crew of a Saif Ali Khan-starrer show Tandav apologised in 2021 after being accused of mocking Hindu gods.

Annapoorani was released in theatres on December 1. The movie received mixed reviews from critics. While some appreciated the movie for its story but some called it “an-all-you-can-eat buffet of undercooked subplots”. But the controversy began when people watched it on Netflix, where it began streaming on December 29.