Peddi lyricist questions Buchi Babu Sana’s apology amid protests over Janhvi Kapoor’s role
The ongoing debate over Janhvi Kapoor’s character as Achiyama in Peddi shows no signs of slowing down. Now, lyricist Ananth Sriram has objected to Buchi Babu Sana’s apology, raising new questions about creative freedom.
Controversy regarding Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiamma pedi This has taken a new turn, with lyricist Ananth Sriram publicly questioning director Buchi Babu Sana’s decision to apologize amid growing criticism. Speaking at the film’s success meeting on Sunday, Sriram suggested that the reaction to the portrayal of the character has sparked a larger debate about artistic freedom and creative expression.
“The comments follow Buchi Babu Sana’s recent apology over his portrayal of Achiamma, which was criticized online. Although the director promised corrective changes, Sriram stood by the filmmaker’s creative vision and questioned whether such criticism was undermining artistic freedom, asking, ‘What have we done to creativity?'”
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Why did Anant Shriram question the apology?
Addressing the controversy, Sriram argued that a character’s behavior is shaped by the imagination and creative vision of the director. He suggested that filmmakers should have the freedom to portray characters as they see fit without facing undue restrictions.
“A character behaves a certain way because he is the imagination of the director. It is a character created from that imagination. Today, there is a growing tendency to believe that only certain ways of thinking are correct, while opinions promoted on social media increasingly influence public perception. If a director is not even given the freedom to portray a character in that way, what have we done to creativity?” He said.
Speaking at the event, he said that criticism on social media often influences public opinion and questioned whether directors were being given enough space to explore creative ideas. According to Sriram, limiting the way characters are written or portrayed can ultimately stifle artistic expression.
What did he say on Achiamma’s criticism?
Sriram also addressed the criticism regarding the portrayal of romance and attraction in the film. He argued that certain subjects are often judged differently depending on how they are presented and questioned why some expressions are labeled artistic while others are considered obscene.
The lyricist further suggested that Buchi Babu Sana’s apology may have been motivated by a desire to avoid hurting the audience’s sentiments rather than admitting wrongdoing. However, he warned that continued pressure on filmmakers could discourage them from tackling bold subjects in mainstream cinema.
How has the controversy affected Peddi?
Despite the ongoing debate, pedi Has performed strongly at the box office. However, discussions about Achiamma’s portrayal have continued to gain momentum online, drawing reactions from audiences as well as public figures in the film industry.
Following the criticism, Buchi Babu Sana apologized and promised corrective measures. With Sriram now publicly defending the director’s creative choices, the conversation has spread beyond character to broader questions about censorship, audience expectations and creative freedom in commercial filmmaking.
pedi It stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles, with Boman Irani, Divyendu and Jagapathi Babu also in lead roles.