Anant Shriram got angry on Kalki 2898 AD, said on the character of Karna – I feel ashamed to be a part of the industry!

Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, created a huge stir at the box office last year. This blockbuster film starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone made a worldwide gross collection of Rs 1042.25 crore. The story of this science-fiction action film was woven on the lines of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. In the film, Amitabh Bachchan played the role of Ashwatthama, while Prabhas was seen in a double role. he/she became the bounty hunter Bhairav, who captures criminals for a reward. he/she was also seen as the Mahabharata character Karna, who was the most loyal ally of Kaurava Duryodhana. Now lyricist Anant Shriram is angry over the way ‘Karna’ has been shown in the film. Lyricist and poet Anant Shriram claims that in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ the makers have shown Karna as superior to Arjun. According to ‘Hindustan Times’ report, at a public function of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh last week, Sriram alleged that today’s cinema is ‘distorting Hindu mythology’. Not only this, he/she has also demanded to boycott such films.

Accusation of insulting Hindu gods and symbols

Accusing filmmakers of misrepresenting Hindu deities and symbols, Sriram claimed, ‘I once vowed not to work with a director who in one of his/her works ‘Brahmana Nayakudu’ ( A reference to Lord Vishnu).

‘Hindu society cannot remain silent, I am ashamed’

Anant Shriram further said, ‘When they distorted Karna by calling him/her superior to Arjuna, how can we as a Hindu society dare to remain silent? When Draupadi was stripped of her clothes, what did Karna do? Today I am feeling embarrassed because of being associated with this film industry. We are not going to remain silent any longer.

Filmmaker Venu Udugula reminded NTR

Meanwhile, filmmaker Venu Udugula has also reacted on this. Venu, who has made films like ‘Needi Naadi OK Katha’ (2018) and ‘Viraat Parvam’ (2022), said that the humanization of Karna is not a new thing in Telugu cinema. It started in 1977 with NT Rama Rao’s ‘Daan Veer Sura Karna’. he/she said, ‘Leaving aside the film Kalki, the first film in Telugu cultural narrative to present the character of Karna from a social and humanitarian perspective was ‘Daan Veer Sura Karna’. The great NTR brought Karna’s personality closer to the people through this film.

Complaint against the makers of Kalki 2898 AD for hurting Hindu sentiments, accusing them of making fun of Sanatan Dharma

Venu raised questions on Anant’s statement

Venu Udugula questioned whether Ananth Sriram’s statement is only on the character of Karna, or is he/she also talking about NTR’s film and his/her views, who had described Karna as socially humane in front of everyone? Venu said, ‘Is he/she rejecting NTR’s creative legacy with this statement?’