Raavan 'Islamised'? Why Adipurush is Getting Hate for 'Incorrect' Ramayana Portrayal | News18 Explains Row and Other 'Loved' Versions

The head priest of Ram temple in Ayodhya has demanded an immediate ban on Bollywood movie ‘Adipurush’, alleging that it has wrongly portrayed Lord Ram, Hanuman and Ravana. A 1.46-minute teaser of the movie, based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, was launched in a grand ceremony in Ayodhya. However, it has been receiving blowback since then for a number of ‘issues’.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad echoed Ayodhya priest priest Satyendra Das’s objections, and criticised the portrayal of Lord Ram, Lakshman and Ravana in the teaser of the film, claiming that it “ridiculed Hindu society”.

As the controversy around the film heats up, News18 explains the various objections around the film, and other portrayals of Ramayana:

Another Big Budget Film Draws from Hindu Mythology

Adipurush is the latest big-budget Indian film to draw on Hindu mythology and culture, following in the footsteps of SS Rajamouli’s RRR and Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra. Director Om Raut, who directed Adipurush has called it a ‘passion project’ for the entire crew, according to a report by Indian Express.

Raut had earlier directed , according to director Om Raut, who previously directed Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, starring Ajay Devgn. “Adipurush is not just a film, it’s a symbol of devotion. Adipurush is a mission, a passion for all of us,” he said. The grand launch event took place at Ram ki Paidi in Ayodhya, on the banks of the Sarayu River, and featured the unveiling of a 50-foot poster of the film that emerged from water. Sunny Singh, who plays Lakshman in Adipurush, and Saif Ali Khan were both absent from the premiere.

Bollywood has been seeing an uptick in films based on Hindu mythology, which have received mixed reviews and reception. The recently-released Brahmastra, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Mouni Roy, was superhero drama about a simpleton who has a special relationship with fire. The films takes inspiration from Hindu mythology, with the plot following Brahmstra, a supernatural weapon said to be capable of destroying the universe.

Other upcoming films on Hindu themes include Akshay Kumar’s ‘Ram Setu’. Kangana Ranaut’s ‘Sita’ is also set to present a portrayal of the centric female character of Lord Ram’s wife Goddess Sita from Ramayana. However, with recent ‘anti-Bollywood’ sentiments expressed on social media sites, the films’ reception has been ‘mixed’.

What Criticism Has Adipurush Received?

The film has received criticism from right-wing and Hindu leaders, online and otherwise. In his criticism of the film, Ajay Sharma, Prachar Pramukh of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Sambhal unit, told reporters that the way in which Lord Ram, Ravana and Lakshman had been portrayed in ‘Adipurush’ was a mockery of Hinduism. “The values of Hindu society have been ridiculed. Hindu society will not tolerate this,” he said.

Criticism Over Portrayal of Raavan, Hanuman

Sharma said the way Ravana had been depicted was not in line with the Ramayana and related religious scriptures.

The multilingual period saga sees Saif Ali Khan play the role of a 10-headed demon king called Lankesh. With a beard, fierce eyes and a buzz cut, this Lankesh seems barbarism personified and many called out the filmmakers for the apparent Islamisation of Ravana. The portrayal of Hanuman, with a beard, without a moustache and dressed in leather, also attracted criticism.

Politicians Join Slam

The film was also criticised by political leaders. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the film attacked the sentiments of Hindus, while Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra warned that legal action would be taken if scenes showing Hindu religious figures in the “wrong” way were not removed.

BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh has said it appears that such controversies are being created deliberately. “Making a film is not a crime. They should be made but creating deliberate controversies to hog limelight is inappropriate,” he said.

UP Deputy CM KP Maurya, said he had not personally seen the movie but asked why ‘such things were done which hurt anyone’s sentiments’. “If feelings have been hurt, then it should be investigated and corrected,” he said.

Debate Over Cancel Culture

The reactions over the film and others with similar themes have initiated debates on ‘cancel culture’, as well. Film Critic, Joginder Tuteja recently told CNN-News18 that a “filmmaker has a right to go ahead and put it across in a way as long as it is sensible, it is not offensive.”

Meanwhile, Om Raut has said he is ‘not surprised’ by the negative response to the teaser: “It’s not designed for small screens,” the Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

Om Raut has also spoken out about the negative reaction to the Adipurush teaser, saying he was disheartened by the memes and trolling that ensued. The filmmaker, on the other hand, stated that he was not surprised by the reaction and had anticipated it. The filmmaker, whose previous film Tanhaji was also heavy on VFX, insisted that the audience’s reaction to the VFX and CGI in Adipurush will be different when they see it on the big screen.

Ramayana’s Earlier Depictions

While the epic has inspired many movies, shows, two that saw love from the audiences was the 1987 TV series Ramayana and the 1993 ‘anime’ film on the Hindu epic. The serial’s remarkable success lends clue to why the Ramayana theme is popular among filmmakers.

The show first aired on DD National between 1987 and 1988, and was narrated by Ashok Kumar and directed by Ramanand Sagar.

The show became the most watched television series in the world, with an 82 percent viewership. The repeat telecast aired at various times on 20 different channels in 17 countries across all five continents. The series’ success was well documented by the media. According to the BBC, over 650 million people watched the serial.

When the series aired every Sunday morning, “streets would be deserted, shops would be closed, and people would bathe and garland their TV sets before the serial began,” according to the BBC. As Arvind Rajagopal, professor of media studies at NYU and author of the book Politics After Television told the publication that public life came to a halt in cities across northern India. “Trains would stop at stations, buses would stop, and passengers would disembark to find a roadside spot with a TV – the crowds were so dense that people couldn’t see or hear the TV, but the point was to be present, to be there.”

And the love for the series has not faded. While younger audiences are still turning to watch the series, the actors are still equally loved. Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Ram in the television series Ramayan, was recently seen at an airport. In a video that emerged, a woman who recognised the real-life Lord Ram was seen holding his feet and bowing to him.

There is a marked difference in the portrayals of characters in this Ramayana and Adipurush – the series stuck to a conventional image of the characters, including portraying Raavana, the Bollywood film’s characterization is being compared to the Marvel universe and other Hollywood ‘superhero films’.

Interestingly, Dipika Chikhlia, who portrayed Sita in the show also criticised Adipurush. “I have seen the teaser of Adipurush. Ramayan is a true story with which the emotions and beliefs of millions of people are associated. Since Ramayan is an important part of people’s faith, it is important to be careful about how its characters, simplicity, and emotions are depicted. I know times have changed and that VFX has become an essential part of movie-making but VFX is good only till it does not hurt people’s sentiments. However, it is only a teaser and may not do justice to the film,” she told India Today.

Another based on the loved epic was the 1993 anime film ‘Ramayana The Legend of Prince Ram’ which found a mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’.

Yugo Sako produced and directed the 1993 anime film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, which was co-produced by Japan and India. It captivated audiences with its faithful adaptation and svelte, godly depictions of Hindu deities.

Japanese producer and director Yugo Sako had detailed his immense preparation before making the Ramayana, “Sako spent months researching the narrative and checking out clothes and architectural aspects, meeting with academics, archaeologists, and historians. He wanted to be extra careful as a foreigner to keep loyal to the epic,” reports said.

Modi recently announced that the film is now being re-mastered in 4k resolution after 30 years. “This project is likely to be completed soon,” Modi had said.

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