At a time when quite a few analysts have opined that 'Kaala' is an anti-Hindutva film, a Tamil Nadu BJP member has said during a television debate that the latest box-office release shows Lord Rama and Ganesha in a bad light.

In the film, the antagonist Haridas Abhyankar (Nana Patekar) plays a right-wing politician. Although it's not stated overtly anywhere, he is a Hindu Nationalist. In the climax, the allegorical references to Ramayana and what happens in Dharavi between Haridas' goondas and Kaala Karikalan (Rajinikanth) can be deemed to be an alternative reading of the epic Ramayana from a Marxist perspective.

In another scene, Ganesha's idol is shown in the context of Kaala's clash with Sampath Raj's character.

Elements like these are drawing criticism from some sections. "The movie comes across as a propaganda against a particular ideology/individual as opposed to one that showcases the plight of the downtrodden. Pa. Ranjith doesn't hold back any punches and that's his prerogative - just wish there was more 'movie' to #Kaala than what we got," says one Ram Raghuraman.

Be that as it may, the film's Tamil version has created a record of sorts in Chennai by grossing Rs 1.76 crore on Day 1. It has bet the 'Mersal' record by more than Rs. 20 lakhs.