Ramayan actor Sunil Lahri says he’s ‘pained’ after watching Adipurush: ‘Different dikhane ke naam pe satyanash kar diya’

Actor Sunil Lahri, who played Lakshman in Ramayan, calls out Adipurush makers for distorting the story and characters. He also said fans have been demanding the re-airing of the 1987 show.

Sunil Lahri played Lakshman in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan. (Photo: YouTube)

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Actor Sunil Lahri, known for playing Lakshman in the TV show Ramayan (1987), shared how he is “disappointed” and “in shock” after watching Prabhas-Kriti Sanon’s film Adipurush. Speaking to indianexpress.com, 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 (Everything is haywire. They destroyed everything to make it different).”

While Adipurush’s representation of characters, subpar visual effects and colloquial dialogues have come under fire, 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 connect. 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 is beating 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 (They got a bat instead). 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.

Shubhra Gupta writes | Adipurush movie review: Prabhas-starrer reduces Ramayan to two-dimensional barrage of little feeling

रामायण पर आधारित आदि पुरुष फिल्म देखने के बाद मेरे व्यक्तिगत विचार…अब से आप मुझे शिखर मूवीज के यूट्यूब चैनल पर भी देख सकते हैं…
My personal view after watching film aadi purush which is based on Ramayan… Now you can check me on Shikhar movies YouTube channel also pic.twitter.com/gDAf07NY6B

— Sunil lahri (@LahriSunil) June 19, 2023

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?”

We hold immense gratitude for your valuable perspectives and thoughts! Your constant love and support is what keeps us going ❤️ Jai Shri Ram 🙏

Book your tickets on: https://t.co/2jcFFjFeI4 #Adipurush now in cinemas near you! ✨ #Prabhas @omraut #SaifAliKhan @kritisanon… pic.twitter.com/EtaDsNsShz

— T-Series (@TSeries) June 18, 2023

Also Read | Mukesh Khanna tears into Adipurush, accuses makers of ‘disrespecting Ramayana’

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 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 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 hypnotised that they made such a film.”

The actor shared that he hasn’t yet spoken to the Ramayan team but did speak to Ramanand Sagar’s son Prem, and his son. He said they too have the same opinions. As for fans, the actor said they are all pained at the way Adipurush has treated the epic. “It’s really painful. I think they should all come out and apologise. 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.”