New Delhi: Film “Adipurush,” starring Prabhas, has been embroiled in controversy since its release on June 16. Criticized for its crass dialogues and inaccuracies, the movie has faced backlash from audiences.
Image source: @actorprabhas/Instagram
While the film continues to rake in significant box office numbers, the production team has decided to address the concerns raised by altering some lines of dialogue. Manoj Muntashir, the co-writer of the film, made this announcement in response to objections raised by a section of the audience regarding the use of colloquialisms in a film based on the epic Ramayana.
In a statement, Muntashir emphasized the importance of respecting every emotion as a lesson from the Ramayana. He acknowledged that despite the time changes, the feelings associated with the epic remain constant.
Muntashir took responsibility for the dialogue writing, mentioning that out of more than 4000 lines in “Adipurush,” some sentiments were unintentionally hurt due to five lines. He expressed regret over not adequately highlighting the glorification of Lord Ram and the praise for Maa Sita’s chastity in the hundreds of other lines he had written.
Previously, while defending some of the objectionable dialogues, Muntashir highlighted India’s rich oral tradition and his upbringing, where he listened to versions of the Ramayana from his elders that used colloquial language.
However, in a surprising turn of events, he stated in an interview with Aaj Tak that “Adipurush” is not an adaptation of the Ramayana but merely inspired by it. This statement contradicted director Om Raut’s earlier claim that Lord Hanuman would come to see the “Ramayana” in the film. Muntashir justified the use of different languages by stating that if multiple characters are present, they cannot all speak the same language; hence, there needs to be a diversion.
The controversy surrounding “Adipurush” extends beyond its dialogues. The film faced criticism for its subpar visual effects, which prompted a delay of several months to improve the quality. Despite the negative reception, Prabhas’ fans have still enjoyed watching the movie.
“Adipurush” box office collection
Directed by Om Raut and featuring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, “Adipurush” had a much-awaited premiere on June 16. The movie had an impressive initial performance, raking in Rs 140 crore globally on its first day of release.
As per industry tracker Sacnilk, it amassed a total of Rs 65 crore across all languages in India on its second day. The movie has also performed well at the Hindi box office, accumulating earnings of Rs 37 crore over two days. In the Telugu states, the second-day gross for “Adipurush” reached Rs 26 crore.
While the film has faced criticism and trolling since its release, particularly regarding its visual effects and dialogues, it has still managed to perform well at the box office. T-Series reported a gross worldwide total of Rs 100 crore on the film’s second day, bringing its two-day haul to Rs 240 crore globally. This places “Adipurush” ahead of “Pathaan,” which earned Rs 219 crore in its first two days.
Image source: @manojmuntashir/Twitter
“Adipurush” holds the fourth position in terms of global box office earnings on its opening day. The three movies preceding it on the list are “RRR,” which earned Rs 222 crore, “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion,” which earned Rs 214 crore, and “KGF: Chapter 2,” which earned Rs 164.5 crore.
Despite the mixed reviews and criticism faced by the film, “Adipurush” has performed remarkably well at the box office, while protests demanding a ban on the film’s screening have occurred in certain regions, its commercial success demonstrates its popularity among fans. With the movie still playing in theatres, it remains to be seen how the alterations and overall reception will shape its trajectory in the coming day
