Adipurush, directed by Om Raut and penned by Manoj Muntashir, has garnered significant attention and sparked debates regarding its intention and potential controversy. Speculations suggest that the movie’s creators deliberately aimed to generate controversy around the retelling of the revered Hindu epic, the Ramayana. What were the potential motivations and intentions behind the making of Adipurush?
Understanding Adipurush
Adipurush is an ambitious project that seeks to present an extravagant retelling of the Ramayana on the big screen. The film features a star-studded cast- Prabhas from the Bahubali fame as Ram, Kriti Sanon, an A-list Bollywood actress as Janaki, and National Award Winner, Saif Ali Khan as Raavan. The film aims to blend cutting-edge technology with a narrative deeply rooted in Hindu mythology. Given the cultural and religious significance of the Ramayana, it is natural for any adaptation or reinterpretation to attract attention and scrutiny.
When Adaptation goes wrong
Adapting ancient texts and mythology is a delicate task that requires a nuanced understanding of the source material. Om Raut, the director, and Manoj Muntashir, the writer, are established professionals in the Indian film industry. Yet, they fail to adapt an epic saga that we grew up listening to.
Their motive behind the contemporary twist to the tale was to acquaint the young audiences with the religious saga, which backfired drastically, only raising concerns about the actual motive behind the making of the film. Since it is highly unlikely that they are unaware of the nuances and reverence associated with the Ramayana. Instead, their intent likely lies in providing a fresh cinematic experience while remaining unfaithful to the essence of the epic.
Creative liberties of characters- was it done deliberately?
Epic characters such as Ram, Raavan, Laxman, and Hanuman hold significant cultural and religious importance, making their portrayal sensitive. But creative liberties went too far with Adipurush’s characterization.
Ram’s leather sandals and look were enough to spark the intention of the makers. It seems like it was done deliberately to create controversy. And it’s not just Ram all other religious figures, such as CGI-created Sugriv and Bali, Indrajeet’s tattoo, and Raavan’s spiked looks suggest that only the makers intended to spike the controversy to get packed theatres. This seems like a common formula with filmmakers these days as they run behind cheap tactics and gimmicks to get audience attention, and the latest to this trend was The Kerala Story.
Filmmakers’ Responsibility
The filmmakers, including director Om Raut and Writer Manoj Muntashir, should bear the primary responsibility for the content created in Adipurush. Including cheap and abusive dialogues may reflect a misguided attempt to create controversy or cater to a specific demographic.
Lack of Questioning
The absence of scrutiny or questioning during the creation and shooting of Adipurush’s dialogues raises valid concerns. While it is difficult to determine the exact dynamics behind the scenes, it is possible that a lack of checks and balances allowed objectionable dialogues to be included without appropriate consideration.
Why did elite actors such as Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, and Kriti Sanon not see a problem while giving performances with such dialogues? Why Bhushan Kumar had no objection after looking at the initial rushes of the film? This could be attributed to various factors, such as a lack of diversity in the creative team or a failure to involve individuals who could have provided valuable perspectives and raised objections.
Importance of Audience Feedback
Audience feedback plays a significant role in shaping the discourse surrounding a film. While filmmakers need to take responsibility for their creations, it is equally crucial for viewers to voice their concerns and hold the industry accountable. Right after the teaser launch, Om Raut, the director, promised to make changes to the film and took good six months or so to make corrections. However, none of the corrections were done in the film, which only adds to the speculation that it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage a classic epic saga just to grab the audience’s attention and make headlines.
Addressing Societal Concerns
The controversy surrounding religious narratives is not uncommon. Adipurush, like any other adaptation of religious texts, has the potential to raise concerns among certain groups. However, it is essential to differentiate between an intentional ploy to create controversy and a genuine effort to address societal concerns and provoke meaningful discussions. The creator’s bold decision with crass dialogues and characterizations suggests deliberate foul play.
Cinematic Considerations
From a commercial standpoint, controversy can generate publicity and attract audiences. Maybe the makers made Adipurush solely to stir controversy. Since they made no effort to make obvious corrections between the first teaser and the trailer launch, given they had six months in between, the success of a film often hinges on its ability to strike commercial viability through controversy. The creators of Adipurush may have aimed to create a cinematic experience by maligning popular religious figures.
Since controversy plays a pivotal role in generating interest and publicity, it could be the sole driving force behind the making of this film by the creators, Om Raut and Manoj Muntashir.