Nag Ashwin's sci-fi flick Kalki 2898 AD features Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan in the main roles, mixing elements of Indian mythology with a futuristic vibe. But things got heated when lyricist Anantha Sriram made some controversial comments about the film during a religious event, prompting filmmaker Venu Udugula to respond.

What did Anantha Sriram mention?

At a recent event hosted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Krishna district, Sriram voiced his frustration with modern films that he feels misrepresent Hindu mythology. He urged attendees to boycott these movies, questioning why they should tolerate such portrayals. He pointed out specific instances where filmmakers have inaccurately depicted Hindu gods and symbols, mentioning that he would never collaborate with a director who dismissed the title ‘Brahmanda Nayakudu’ for Lord Vishnu.

Sriram also took aim at the film Kalki 2898 AD, claiming the creators were ‘humanizing’ Karna. He expressed outrage over the portrayal of Karna as being superior to Arjuna, asking how the Hindu community could remain silent on such issues. He recalled the incident of Draupadi's humiliation and expressed his shame as a member of the film industry, declaring that they would no longer stay quiet. He further criticized filmmakers for taking liberties with the stories of the Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana.

Venu Udugula's reaction

His comments sparked a variety of reactions on social media. Some folks backed Sriram for voicing his thoughts, especially coming from the film industry, while others were more skeptical. Filmmaker Venu chimed in, reminding Sriram that long before Kalki 2898 AD, Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) had already given a more relatable take on Karna and other complex figures from mythology.

He said, “Hey @IananthaSriram sir, putting the #Kalki movie aside, the first film in the Telugu cultural scene to show a social and humanitarian angle to Karna was ‘Daana Veera Soora Karna.’ The legendary #NTR made Karna’s character more relatable to the audience through this film.”

Venu asked Sriram if his criticism was a way of rejecting NTR’s legacy. He said, “Are you just targeting Karna’s character, or are you also trying to downplay the impactful vision that NTR had? Can we interpret your comments as a dismissal of his creative contributions?”

Venu is recognized for directing films such as Needi Naadi Oke Katha and Virata Parvam. Sriram has collaborated with renowned composers like AR Rahman, MM Keeravaani, and Ilaiyaraaja.

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