Often, the phrase “Marked Safe from X” is used humorously to indicate one’s escape from a disaster or a dire event. Recently, however, it has taken on a cinematic context, with a slew of memes circulating the Internet reading, “Marked Safe from Adipurush”. Om Raut, the director of this highly criticized film, suddenly finds himself in a tumultuous sea of public outrage and ridicule.
A grave insult to Ramayan
Released on June 16th, 2023, “Adipurush” was promoted as an adaptation of the revered Indian epic, the Ramayana. The filmmakers claimed Valmiki’s Ramayana as their primary source of inspiration. However, after viewing the film, audiences are hard-pressed to find any correlation with this claim.
If one thought the film “Pathaan” was a cinematic disaster this year, “Adipurush” is likely to make them reconsider. At the heart of the controversy are the film’s “problematic” dialogues, including those attributed to Hanuman, who is renamed as Bajrang in the film. Dialogues such as ‘Teri Bua ka Bagicha’ and ‘Jalegi bhi Tere Baap Ki’ have further incensed the viewers.
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Manoj Muntashir, the film’s dialogue writer, added fuel to the fire with a somewhat laughable defense of his controversial lines. Muntashir claimed that he crafted these ‘relatable dialogues’ to connect with the audience. Despite initially asserting that they had not altered the original Ramayana, the makers backtracked amidst mounting controversy and stated that “Adipurush” was merely ‘inspired’ by the Ramayana, rather than being a direct adaptation.
The new definition of shamelessness: MANOJ MUNTASHIR!
Muntashir went to considerable lengths to justify the uncivilized dialogues, stating that meticulous thought went into their creation. In an interview with Republic, he explained that it was a deliberate attempt to mirror the ‘modern, contemporary’ speaking styles of the general public in the country.
During an appearance on Lallantop, Muntashir compared the controversy with the opposition faced by the poet Tulsidas for writing Ramcharitmanas in the Awadhi language instead of Sanskrit. Director Om Raut echoed these sentiments, reiterating that “Adipurush” was only inspired by the Ramayana, not an official interpretation or adaptation.
Amidst intense criticism, Muntashir lamented that his efforts in glorifying Shri Ram and describing Maa Sita’s chastity in many of the lines went unrecognized. Instead, he found himself at the receiving end of harsh words from his fans and Twitter supporters.
In a disheartened tone, Muntashir shared, “The same people who I regarded as my own, for whom I recited poems in honor of their respected mothers on television, directed indecent words towards my own mother.”
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The road ahead for “Adipurush”!
Despite the widespread controversy and protests by fans, “Adipurush” has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark at the box office. However, with the initial hype fading and the public sentiment strongly against it, whether the film will be able to recover its costs post the opening weekend remains doubtful.
In conclusion, “Adipurush” has proven to be a major disappointment for fans expecting a respectful cinematic adaptation of a cherished epic. The controversy surrounding it serves as a stark reminder to filmmakers about the critical balance between creative liberty and cultural sensitivity, a lesson that will hopefully influence Indian cinema’s future.
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