Scriptures, books, earlier TV serials and movies based on the ‘Ramayana’ have described the character of Ravan in a very different way than what has been shown in the ‘Adipurush’ teaser. As you must know, Ravan was part Brahmin and part Asura. He was not just powerful and strong but was a scholar and had a brilliant intellect. He is also known to play the veena exceptionally well. Under his rule, Lanka was flourishing like it never did before.
However, Ravan did have a temper and a massive ego. But he hasn’t been known to be a loud torturer, dressed in black leather, with a ghost-like appeal. But that is how he is shown in the ‘Adipurush’ teaser, making people draw parallels between Saif Ali Khan’s Ravan and Ranveer Singh’s Allauddin Khilji.
Amidst the massive backlash that the film has been facing, ‘Adipurush’ director Om Raut recently addressed the complaints that the audience has been making, reported Hindustan Times.
“Our Ravan in today’s time is demonic, he is cruel. The one who has abducted our Goddess Sita is cruel. We have shown what Ravan looks like in today’s time. This is not a film or a project for us. This is a mission for us. Our film is a symbol of our devotion and we need everyone’s blessings for this.”
Om Raut further added that in his imagination, this is what Ravan or a demon looks like today. He also addressed the character’s comparison with Khilji.
“Ravan is a demon. In earlier TV shows, he was a cruel being so he was given a big moustache, and they showed him as a demon in those times. It was their artistic representation of what a demon would look like. Our Ravan is today’s Ravan. And if I were to imagine how he would look like today, this is what he would look like. I want to ask which Khilji sports a tilak or a tripund? Which Khilji wears a janeu (holy thread) and rudraksh? Our Ravan sports all of these in the tiny teaser.”
Do you think his justification is valid?