Why was there so much uproar over Peddi earning Rs 200 crore? Why was social media furious about Janhvi Kapoor’s scenes? Why did director Buchi Babu Sana have to apologize? Why did lyricist Anantha Sriram start the fight for creative freedom? Will the ‘Peddi’ controversy affect the success of the film or will its dominance at the box office continue?
Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor starrer sports-action drama ‘Peddi’ is performing brilliantly at the box office and has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark in India. However, amidst the success of the film, the controversy regarding the presentation of Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiamma is not stopping. Questions related to objectification and consent were raised on social media regarding some scenes of the film. After criticism, director Buchi Babu Sana respected the sentiments of the audience and assured change. Now the film’s lyricist Anantha Sriram has expressed his disagreement over the director’s apology and has raised the issue of creative freedom.
‘Peddi’ reaches Rs 200 crore club, but controversy persists
Maintaining a strong hold at the box office, ‘Peddi’ continues to earn handsomely. The film has done a business of more than Rs 200 crore in India. Despite this, debate continues on social media regarding some scenes of the film. Especially the debate is still going on regarding the presentation of Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiamma. The controversy is related to the romantic track of the film. Some viewers allege that some scenes in the film cross the limits of romance and consent. Critics questioned the scenes in which the hero expresses attraction towards Achiamma despite her reluctance. A scene in which a kiss was shown without consent during a power outage became the most talked about topic on social media. Many users called it objectionable and raised the question that if the film’s villain had done the same thing then why would its presentation be different.
What did Anantha Sriram say on the director’s apology?
During the success meet of the film, when director Buchi Babu Sana’s apology was mentioned, lyricist Anantha Sriram openly expressed his opinion. He said, “A character behaves as per the imagination of the director. He is a character born from that imagination. Today, the thinking is increasing that only the thinking of English speaking, PhD and graduate people is correct. People who are constantly giving opinions and trolling on social media, their influence is increasing. If the director will not even get the freedom to create his characters like this, then what have we saved for creativity?”
‘Why does the perspective change when the language changes?’
Ananta Sriram further said that sometimes people’s reaction changes when the same emotion is presented in a different language and style. He said, “If you say things like ‘vital attraction’ or ‘hormonal reaction’ in big words, it is considered artistic and brilliant. But if a character from a tribal background says in his own language ‘I want to touch you’, it is considered obscene. Then it is said that he treated the woman as an object. To do this is like stifling creativity.”
Why did Buchi Babu Sana apologize?
After the controversy escalated, director Buchi Babu Sana had said, “We have taken seriously the feedback received regarding some scenes of ‘Peddi’.” He also assured that necessary changes would be made in the parts which made the audience uncomfortable. Anantha Sriram believes that the director may have given this apology out of humility and in the spirit of not hurting anyone’s sentiments, but with such pressure continuously increasing, it can be difficult to raise serious issues in commercial films. Let us tell you that apart from Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor, Shiv Rajkumar, Divyendu and Boman Irani are seen in important roles in ‘Peddi’.