Explained: What Is The Controversy Around 'Adipurush'?

The much awaited film Adipurush, a film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, hit the screns on June 16, 2023.

Directed by Om Raut and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Om Raut, and Prasad Sutar, the film stars Prabhas as Ram, Kriti Sanon as Sita, Saif Ali Khan as Ravana, and Sunny Singh as Lakshman.

Here's a detailed account of the controversies the film is courting:

Controversial Depiction of Lord Ram in 'Adipurush'

The film has been mired in controversy since its inception. In 2021, the film's teaser was met with criticism from some Hindu groups who objected to the portrayal of Lord Ram and other characters. They alleged that the film was inaccurate and inappropriate and that it would hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

The controversy intensified in 2022, when the film's poster was released. The poster showed Prabhas as Ram wearing a crown and holding a bow and arrow. This led to further criticism from Hindu groups, who argued that the crown was not part of Ram's traditional attire and that it made him look like a "king" rather than a "god". In response to the controversy, the film's producers have said that they have made changes to the film to address the concerns of Hindu groups. However, the controversy has continued, and there have been calls for the film to be banned.

Hanuman Seat Controversy

At the trailer launch, the director had announced that a seat will be reserved for Lord Hanuman in every screening. There were also unverified reports of a man being beaten up for sitting in the seat reserved for Lord Hanuman.

Shoddy VFX and 'Tapori' Style Dialogues

The movie also faced criticism for the quality of its VFX and 'tapori' style dialogues mouthed by the actor playing Lord Hanuman. Critics were more severe in judging the film, calling it a hotch-potch of movies of the past.

'Adipurush' Dialogues

In Nepal, the film's release hit a snag as the screening was put on hold in cinema halls across Kathmandu following a controversy over a dialogue that calls Janaki as the daughter of India. As per the mythology, Sita is believed to have been born in Janakpur, which is located in Nepal. Kathmandu City Mayor Balendra Shah asked the makers to rectify the mistake about the birthplace of Sita. "Until the line 'Janaki is a daughter of India' contained in the South Indian film 'Adipurush' is removed not just in Nepal but also in India, no Hindi films will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (sic)," Mayor Shah wrote on Facebook on Thursday. Nepal's film certification board also said that the permission to screen the film in theatres will be granted only after changing the dialogue that describes "Sita as India's daughter".

On the one hand, there are those who believe that the film is a harmless interpretation of the Ramayana and that it should be allowed to be released. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the film is disrespectful to Hindu religious beliefs and that it should not be released.

The multilingual spectacle, produced by T-Series, released across the nation in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and Tamil languages. Produced by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series, Adipursh has a budget of Rs 500 crore. The makers claimed the film raised Rs 140 crore on the day one of its release on Friday.