According to the Ramayan we grew up reading about and watching, Raavan was half Asur and half Brahmin. He was the ruler of Lanka which is described as a gorgeous, colourful and luxurious place which has an abundance of everything. It is called the ‘City of Gold’ because literally everything was made out of gold, including the palaces and the gates. Raavan has been described as a hothead but he was a skilled politician, musician, poet, astrologer, an enthusiast of science and a great intellectual.
Raavan, like most characters in Hindu Mythology, is not a black-or-white character. He is various shades of grey. While he has deeply admirable qualities, he also has characteristics which can make one dislike him.
However, Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’ reduced the multi-faceted Raavan into a mere and ruthless demon. Sporting a haircut which is advertised in most local hair salons, Adipurush’s Raavan is all black. Lanka is black. His outfit is black. His entourage is black. All black.
This is why a large section of the film-watching audience was left highly disappointed after watching the film. They saw their beloved idea of Ramayan crumble right in front of their eyes.
And so, a guy on Instagram took the help of artificial intelligence to depict Saif Ali Khan’s Raavan in ‘Adipurush’. The results are everything that Om Raut’s film heavily lacked.
Raavan is supposed to be strong, powerful, larger than life, impactful, and attractive.
Have a look at the Instagram post here:
View this post on Instagram
People online responded to this post by expressing that this is how Saif Ali Khan should have looked in the film. Here’s a look at some of the reactions:
What are your views on the version of Raavan shown in ‘Adipurush’?