Kanguva Trimmed: Will 12 Minutes Rescue the Film?

In the world of cinema, movies are like intricate recipes—sometimes, the ingredients blend perfectly, and other times, something needs a little tweaking. For Kanguva, the Suriya-starrer directed by Siva, it seems that the filmmakers decided to adjust the seasoning after the initial taste test. Released on November 14, 2024, the film faced a less-than-warm reception, with critics and audiences voicing mixed-to-negative opinions about its execution and screenplay. In an effort to salvage its reception, the makers have decided to trim 12 minutes from the film's runtime, making adjustments just days after its release.

According to reports, the cuts mainly involve removing modern-day portions of the film, which were reportedly dragging down the pace. The movie, originally criticized for its length and certain narrative choices, will now be re-censored, hoping to improve the audience's overall experience. The hope is that these 12 minutes might offer a tighter, more engaging narrative—like cutting away excess fat to reveal a leaner, more flavorful dish.

In the wake of these changes, the film’s producer KE Gnanavel Raja’s wife, Neha, weighed in on the backlash regarding Disha Patani's character, Angela. In a now-deleted tweet, Neha explained that Angela's role was never meant to dominate the film, suggesting that the character was more of an eye-catching addition rather than a central focus. While she defended the movie against targeted criticism, Jyotika, Suriya's wife, also stepped in to defend Kanguva. On her social media, Jyotika praised the film's overall quality and expressed her pride in Suriya’s performance, despite acknowledging some of the film's early flaws.

The trimming of Kanguva’s runtime might be the filmmakers' way of salvaging what they can, but the question remains: Will 12 minutes really be enough to turn the tide? After all, sometimes even the finest dishes need a second helping to win over critics. Or in this case, perhaps a second cut will help Kanguva find its rhythm, but only time will tell if these new adjustments will redeem the film or leave it still simmering in mixed reviews.