Director and actor Ameer, known for often being at the centre of controversies, has once again made headlines with his contentious remarks about actor Soori's new film, 'Kottukkaali'. The movie, which garnered high praise at international film festivals, was released in theatres on August 23rd. As an arthouse film, 'Kottukkaali' received a mixed response from the general public.

At a recent film event, Ameer commented, "Kottukkaali was made entirely for international film festivals. It should not have been released in theaters to compete with commercial films. If I had produced it, I would not have released it in theaters. Forcing a film that has won international awards into a commercial theater setting is unnecessary and even violent." He criticised the film's producer Sivakarthikeyan for the theatrical release.

Following his statement, Ameer faced criticism from several celebrities and audience members who argued that filmmakers should have the freedom to decide whether their movies are released in theatres or on OTT platforms. They believe it is the creator's prerogative to make such decisions. However, some supporters of Ameer suggest that his remarks were not directed against 'Kottukkaali' itself but rather against the challenges faced by non-commercial films in the competitive landscape of commercial cinema.

Interestingly, a few netizens have pointed out that Ameer previously advocated for movies like 'Merku Thodarchi Malai,' produced by Vijay Sethupathi, to be released exclusively in theatres, highlighting a seeming contradiction in his stance. But Lenin Bharathi, the director of 'Merku Thodarchi Malai', has disagreed with Ameer's statement about 'Kottukkaali'. This issue has ignited a hot debate on social media.