Suriya's courtroom drama received praise from critics but also ignited controversy when an FIR was filed against it. The Madras High Court has now, after several months, rejected the FIR against Jai Bhim, Suriya, Jyothika, and director TJ Gnanavel for allegedly hurting the sensibilities of the Vanniyar people. The lawsuit was dismissed after being in court since December, which is a huge relief for Suriya and Jai Bhim. On August 11, Justice N Sathish Kumar of the Madras High Court issued the ruling.
For those who are unfamiliar, The Vanniyar Sangam sent legal notices against Suriya, Jai Bhim director TJ Gnanavel, and Amazon India in December 2021, seeking an apology over the movie's portrayal of the Vanniyar people. The Vanniyar Sangam has also asked that specific Jai Bhim sequences be deleted and that they be compensated Rs. 5 crore within a week.
However, in May, after the movie's premiere and success on recognized stages like the Oscars, the Madras Court ordered police to look into the matter. In fact, the situation has gotten so serious that Suriya has received death threats and has been given police protection at his house.
The fundamental idea of the film, according to a statement by Suriya in November, focused on the problems of indigenous people and was inspired by a case that retired Justice Chandru had taken on. "In spite of what you claim in your letter, neither my team nor I have ever intended to offend anyone or any group of people. I hope you are aware that once several individuals pointed out errors, corrections were made." The actor also expressed gratitude to his fans and peers who supported him throughout.
At the most recent National Awards 2022, Suriya and Jai Bhim won Best Actor and Best Film, respectively. At the IFFM, Suriya is also up for Best Actor, while Jai Bhim is up for Best Film.
