Sunil Lahri, an actor well known for portraying Lakshman in the 1987 show Ramayan, shared how he is “disappointed” and “in shock” after watching Prabhas-Kriti Sanon’s film Adipurush. Sunil shared that the film may have graphics and looks like a painting but ‘content and emotion’ wise, it has nothing. “I really cannot understand who were they (Adipurush makers) catering to. Na narration, na story na characterisation. Sab kuch haywire hai. Different dikhane ke naam pe satyanash kar diya.” ALSO READ: Dipika Chikhlia criticizes Adipurush director for kissing scene
While Adipurush’s representation of the characters, poor visual effects, and informal conversation has drawn criticism, the actor says, as someone associated with the story and character, he is aghast. He shared that Ramayan can be made in a wonderful way but the Om Raut-directed film did not have any emotional connection. Calling the movie a blunder, he shared that the characters came across too different. “Ram and Lakshman didn’t have any differentiation, looked and behaved the same. Then Raavan was made into a blacksmith, where he beat iron. What was the need? Meghnad is a man with tattoos and the hairstyle of these characters is obnoxious. Raavan has the same haircut as Virat Kohli. It’s a shame.”
Sunil Lahri added that there are some important things that the makers shouldn’t have altered. “Starting with Pushpak Viman, which Ravaan used. Uske jagah yaha chamgadar le ke aagaye. Ram is seen fighting the war on Hanuman’s shoulder, whereas Lord Indra bestowed a carriage for him. To make it look more dramatic, they have got Lakshman and Meghnad fighting in water, whereas it’s said that Meghnad used his power to disappear then,” he explained.
Questioning the makers’ attempt to make the film look ‘modern’, the actor said that just a couple of years back, when Ramayan aired again on TV, it saw a huge viewership. He said that while the show came in 1987, it has always found an audience. “During the lockdown, when people were at home and had multiple titles to watch, they chose Ramayan. The ratings were at an all-time high. No one forced anyone to watch it but people of all generations loved it. Even now, the youngsters are my biggest fans. They relate to the authentic show and thus have called Adipurush out. Modernisation ke liye kuch bhi karoge?”
Addressing the statement issued by the makers about changing certain dialogues, the actor said that once the arrow is shot, it cannot come back. “Even if it’s taken out, you have already wounded the spot. They shouldn’t have done this vilification in the first place. A respectful character like Hanuman is saying ‘tere baap ki jalegi‘, and Meghnad is saying ‘chal nikal’. This is heights. It’s not even tapori language or a certain local dialect. What were they even thinking?”
Sunil added that ever since Adipurush was announced, he couldn’t connect himself with the project. He admitted that initially he even thought the film was about jungles or early man. “Then it was said that it will justify Raavan’s decision to kidnap Sita, which was again a shock. Then they changed things, and even then they made this? T-Series has its roots in bhakti and religion and Om, the name itself, is godly. Prabhas and Saif Ali Khan could have demanded a bound script. I am really shocked how the film was even released. I have heard Manoj Muntashir and he really respects our culture and religion. And then he writes such dialogues? I really feel that everyone was just blindfolded or hypnotized that they made such a film.”
The actor revealed that while he hasn’t yet spoken to the Ramayan cast, he has spoken to Prem Sagar, son of Ramanand Sagar, and his son. They have the same views, he claimed. Fans, according to the actor, are all upset by how Adipurush treated the epic. “It’s really painful. I think they should all come out and apologize. This film should be banned,” he shared. Sunil added that people are already demanding that their show should be re-aired on TV or put in theatres to make up for Adipurush. He said, “Jo gandagi film ne machaiye hai, sab keh rahe hai Ramayan ka saboon lao, to wash that off.”
Sunil Lahri concluded that if he has to ignore all these flaws, the only performance that stood out for him was Saif Ali Khan’s. He said, “He really justified the character that was given to him. Others failed miserably. Anyone else could have played their part.”