Adipurush Faces Backlash for Controversial Dialogues, Writer Defends Creative Choices

The recently released film Adipurush, directed by Om Raut, has found itself at the centre of controversy due to its dialogues. A section of the audience has expressed disappointment, claiming that the film’s writer and director have made a mockery of the revered Hindu epic, Ramayan, through the dialogues. One particular scene featuring Lord Hanuman and Indrajeet, son of Raavan, has sparked ire among viewers. The dialogue exchange has drawn criticism for its colloquial language and alleged disrespect towards the mythological characters.

In the scene, during the Lanka Dahan sequence, Indrajeet tells Hanuman, “Jali na? Jiski jalti hai vahi janta hai…” (Roughly translated as “Burned, eh? Only the one who gets burned knows…”). Hanuman responds, “Kapda tere baap ka, tel tere baap ka, aag bhi tere baap ki, jalegi bhi tere baap ki…” (Roughly translated as “The clothes are your father’s, the oil is your father’s, the fire is also your father’s, it will burn too…”).

Amid the growing negativity surrounding the film’s dialogue writing, writer Manoj Muntashir addressed the issue in an interview with a news channel. He referred to the criticism as “a deliberate effort to oversimplify” the story for the audience. Muntashir defended the scene in question, stating, “It is not an error. There’s a meticulous process that has gone behind writing the dialogues for Bajrang Bali. We have made it simple because you have to understand one thing: there are multiple characters in the film, and all of them can’t speak the same language.”

However, Muntashir’s statement defending the dialogues has only intensified the disappointment among fans. Many social media users found his response offensive and felt that he should have acknowledged the alleged insensitivity and offered an apology instead. Twitter users expressed their discontent, with one saying, “Instead of apologizing for the insensitive writing in Adipurush, Manoj Muntashir says he has deliberately and intentionally written such dialogues. There is no shame he has for defaming our Gods.” Another comment read, “Manoj Muntashir admits he knowingly and intentionally wrote such Tapori-type blasphemous dialogues for Adipurush. He should have apologized to Hindus for hurting their sentiments instead of defending himself shamelessly.”

Adipurush, although featuring changed names for the characters from Ramayan, remains an attempt to pay homage to the revered Hindu epic. While Ram becomes Raghav, Sita becomes Janaki, Hanuman becomes Bajrang, Laxman becomes Shesh, and Raavan becomes Lankesh, the essence of the characters and the story remain the same.

Apart from the controversy surrounding the dialogues, Adipurush has also faced criticism for its subpar visual effects and factual inaccuracies. The film has received mixed reviews from the audience, with opinions varying on the execution of the story and overall production quality.

As the debate continues, Adipurush serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between creative choices and respecting religious sentiments. The film’s reception highlights the importance of thoughtfully approaching projects that draw inspiration from sacred texts and mythologies.

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