Director Vivek Agnihotri, known for The Kashmir Files, has taken a sly dig at Prabhas for his portrayal of Lord Ram in Om Raut’s Adipurush, which faced massive criticism for allegedly distorting the Hindu epic, Ramayan. The film stirred controversy upon its release in June.
Vivek now reflects on the film's failure and the uproar it caused across the country.
He believes that when filmmakers create something they don't genuinely believe in but do it because it's currently popular, they are bound to go wrong when dealing with stories of faith.
He emphasizes that while crafting stories of faith, one should either have complete faith in the subject matter or be a historian; otherwise, it won't resonate with the Indian audience.
Without explicitly naming anyone, Vivek indirectly targets filmmakers who may cast "stars" in films based on Ramayan.
Nitesh Tiwari is currently working on a screen adaptation of the Hindu epic, with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor rumored to play the lead roles of Sita and Ram, respectively.
He further explains that the enduring nature of certain elements is due to their significance over thousands of years.
“Nothing lasts for so many years. If something has lasted for 5000 years, there is a reason for it. So, if somebody comes on screen and says, Hey, I’m God, it doesn’t make you God. If you get driven home drunk every night, you cannot turn around tomorrow and say I’m God, believe me. Nobody is going to believe that. People are not idiots," Vivek said.
In the past, Vivek Agnihotri also criticized films that prioritize "nonsense action with loud sound" in a series of tweets. These comments came shortly after the release of a teaser for Prabhas starrer Salaar, where the actor was dubbed as "the most violent man."
In his tweets, Vivek did not mention any specific names but criticized the promotion of extreme violence and nonsensical cinema, as well as the elevation of non-actors as big stars, assuming the audience to be gullible.
Overall, Vivek Agnihotri's comments touch upon the importance of authenticity and sensitivity when portraying subjects with deep cultural and religious significance in Indian cinema.
