Ever since the teaser of the Bollywood movie Adipurush was released, Hindu society has reacted angrily to the wrong depiction of Prabhu Shri Ram, Shri Hanuman and Ravana. Ayodhya Ram temple’s head priest Satyendra Das on Wednesday (October 5) demanded an immediate ban on the movie.

“The portrayal of Bhagwan Ram, Hanuman and Ravana does not conform with the epic and therefore is against their dignity. Making a film is not a crime but they should not be made to create deliberate controversies to hog the limelight”, the chief priest opined.

Deputy chief ministers (DCM) of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak came out in support of the saints. They have also expressed their anguish and condemned the teaser adding that disrespect of Hindu Devis and Devatas would not be tolerated.

“Whatever saints have said needs attention. Movies have often hurt the sentiments of Hindus. Whenever our culture was attacked it was these saints and akharas that saved our culture. We are proud of our culture”, DCM Brajesh’s statement said. DCM Keshav Maurya stated that he had not yet watched the Adipurush teaser but wanted the makers to release the film only after the necessary corrections are made.

“The Ravana in the photograph that I see floating around is a guy who looks nothing Indian, has blue eye makeup and is wearing leather jackets. This is our history they are representing; they cannot do it in the guise of creative liberty”, BJP spokesperson and actor Malvika Avinash said.

Even the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has raised objections against Adipurush. “The values of Hindu society have been ridiculed. Hindu society will not tolerate this. The VHP will not allow this film to be screened in theatres”, stated Ajay Sharma, VHP Sambhal Unit’s Prachar Pramukh.

Earlier on October 4, Madhya Pradesh Narottam Mishra had warned the makers of Adipurush of legal action if they didn’t remove objectionable scenes from the movie. “Hanuman Ji is shown wearing leather, whereas the description (in the scriptures) of the deity’s costume is different… These are scenes that hurt religious sentiments. I am writing a letter to Om Raut to remove all such scenes from the film. If not removed, we will consider legal action,” he was quoted by the media.

In the meanwhile, the Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha on Thursday (October 6) sent a notice to Om Raut, the director of Adipurush featuring Prabhas and Kriti Sanon, asking him to remove controversial scenes from the film in seven days or else face legal action. Advocate Kamlesh Sharma sent the notice on behalf of the National President of Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha Pt. Suresh Mishra.

“The depiction of Hindu Gods and Goddesses is being done in a wrong way in this film. In this film, Hindu Gods and Goddesses are shown in a very distorted form, wearing leather clothes and they are being seen speaking in an indecent manner. In fact, very low-level language has been used in the film which is provoking and hurting religious sentiments. There are dialogues and depictions spreading religious and caste hatred in the film. Ramayana is our history and our spirit, however, in Adipurush, Sri Hanuman is shown as a Mughal,” the notice reads.

“Which Hindu bears a beard without a moustache that Sri Hanumanji has been shown to do.” This film is a complete Islamisation of Ramayana and of Prabhu Ram, Maa Sita, and Sri Hanuman. Even Saif Ali Khan who is playing the role of Ravana in the Adipurush movie looks like Taimur and Khilji. The film is going to spread hatred among a particular class by inciting religious sentiments in the country. This picture is being widely publicised through the Internet, which is completely harmful to our society and country. “You are making a film that hurts the sentiments of crores of Hindus,” said the notice.

“You are requested not to play with the sentiments of the people, do not stigmatise the faith of the people and depict the film as it is depicted in Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas”. Therefore, by sending a legal notice, it is requested that by publicly apologising for the above acts in seven days, delete all dialogue illustrations otherwise legal action will be taken, reads the notice.

HinduPost had earlier highlighted why Hindu Granthas shouldn’t be left to Bollywood’s interpretation. “Adipurush is Raut’s take on the Ramayana by Valmiki. The film is set 7,000 years ago and, in the film, Prabhas’s character is not called Lord Ram, he is Raghav, which is another name for Ram”, say media reports. For someone who claims that his movie is based on the original Mahakavya, the characterisation is completely off track.

(With IANS inputs)