Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD, featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan, combines Indian mythology with futuristic elements. However, lyricist Anantha Sriram sparked controversy with comments about the film at a religious event, prompting a response from filmmaker Venu Udugula.
At a Vishwa Hindu Parishad gathering in Krishna district last week, Sriram expressed his discontent with modern films for distorting Hindu mythology and called for a boycott. He criticised filmmakers for misrepresenting Hindu deities and symbols, mentioning that he refused to work with a director who rejected the term ‘Brahmanda Nayakudu’ for Lord Vishnu.
Sriram further mentioned Kalki 2898 AD, accusing the filmmakers of ‘humanising’ Karna’s character. He questioned how Hindu society could stay silent when Karna was portrayed as superior to Arjuna and criticised his role during Draupadi’s vastraharan. He also expressed shame as a member of the film industry and criticised filmmakers for altering stories from the Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana.Sriram’s statements sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some praising him for speaking out despite his industry ties, while others questioned his remarks. Filmmaker Venu responded, reminding Sriram that Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) had humanised Karna and other complex characters in mythology long before Kalki 2898 AD.
He wrote, “Hello @IananthaSriram sir, The matter of the #Kalki movie aside, in the Telugu cultural narrative, the first film to introduce a social and humanitarian perspective to Karna’s character was “Daana Veera Soora Karna.” The great #NTR brought Karna’s persona closer to the people through this film.”
Venu also challenged Sriram, asking if his criticism implied a rejection of NTR’s legacy. He questioned whether Sriram’s remarks were solely aimed at Karna’s character or if they also undermined the socially impactful vision that NTR had presented, implying a possible rejection of his creative legacy.
Venu, recognized for directing films like Needi Naadi Oke Katha and Virata Parvam, has made a name for himself in the industry. Meanwhile, Sriram, a lyricist, has collaborated with renowned music composers such as AR Rahman, MM Keeravaani, and Ilaiyaraaja.
