Abhishek Singh’s Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha recently opened in Indian theatres with relatively little noise around it. That changed within days when one of the film’s promotional posters started doing the rounds on social media. The reason was an unexpected detail: a pair of glasses. The image prompted questions about how the Ramayana was being portrayed. The makers have now responded to the criticism, saying the image being circulated is promotional artwork and not a frame from the movie.
Makers say the viral image is not from the film
The production team addressed the controversy on September 27. We are actors; whatever character is offered to us, we will portray it by giving our 100 percent. Because we are public figures, and we have given the public a right to judge us, speaking at the trailer launch, she said, “No, I didn’t feel sad about it.
“If this visual really appears in the film, please share a genuine theatre-captured screenshot or give the exact scene and timestamp where a Vanar Sena member is shown wearing glasses. “But repeatedly presenting a promotional image as a film scene is misleading. The makers’ argument is that the poster should not be treated as evidence of something that happens in the movie. But criticism should be directed at the film people have actually watched. When promotional images, edited visuals or isolated assets begin circulating as evidence of alleged scenes in the film, we as filmmakers have every right to put the actual visuals in front of the audience. Several users questioned the presence of spectacles in the Treta Yuga, while others simply poked fun at the poster. One wrote, “Treta yug me bhi chashma lagate the (People wore spectacles even in the Treta Yuga?). Anjali addressed the criticism following the casting announcement. So, it is their wish to judge us positively or negatively. Everyone has the authority to like it or not like it. Once it comes out in front of the public, it is their decision the way they want to look at it. I have played the role of Sita Maa, and now, after watching the trailer, did you feel that she is the same Anjali whom we see on social media? My only aim is that when the audience watches the movie, they keep my personal life and personality aside.”
We will respond publicly,” the makers said. They also said they have no issue with people criticising the film, but believe the criticism should be based on what audiences actually see on screen. Abhishek Singh said, “Criticism is part of filmmaking and none of us expect everyone to have the same opinion. The team has also said it plans to release footage from the film to show the difference between the movie and the image currently being shared online. One said, “Am I hallucinating or do you all genuinely see #him? ” One X user wrote, “Tretayug mai wanar sena ne chashma laga rakha hai 😸 Ye kaisi movie banayi hai bhai 😭. (The Vanar Sena is wearing glasses in the Treta Yuga? 😸 What kind of movie have they made, man?).
Speaking to India Today, director Abhishek Singh and the makers asked those questioning the film to provide evidence from an actual screening.
