Body for the lens: Singer Sumangali criticizes Peddi makers for hypersexualizing Janhvi
Singer Sumangali Ariyanayagam has criticized the makers of Peddi for hypersexualizing Janhvi Kapoor’s character. His comments add to the criticism over actor objectification in the film.
Singer Sumangali Ariyanayagam on Friday criticized the producers pedi Which he called hypersexualization of Janhvi Kapoor’s character in the film. In an Instagram story, she said that the makers created a story around the trauma of powerlessness but denied Kapoor’s role, Achiamma, the same dignity.
His comments come as the sports drama directed by Ram Charan is facing increasing criticism on social media over the way director Buchi Babu Sana wrote and filmed Achiamma. The response has focused on objectification, the handling of consent in love tracks and a viral screenshot showing Kapoor liking a post attacking the film’s treatment of her character.
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In his Instagram story, Sumangali wrote, “A room full of powerful people sat down to write a story about the trauma of being powerless. In the same breath, he turned Janhvi Kapoor’s character into a body for the lens, a prop for a forced kiss, and a tool to be thrown away when the song was over.”
She concluded the post by saying, “They knew exactly what human dignity meant. They decided she wasn’t worth it.”
Why is the film being criticized?
Since its premiere, pedi There has been criticism for the way Achiamma is treated on screen, even as Ram Charan’s character is given a larger socio-political arc. An Instagram page Recommendation Community recently shared a post titled, “pedi: The most expensive insult ever to a leading lady in Indian cinema.”
The post states that the film condemns the denial of human identity as a systemic evil, while denying Achiamma the same humanity. It was also argued that while Ram gets a socio-political crusade, Janhvi gets a midriff close-up.
The same post cited reports that Kapoor had questioned such shots during post-production, in line with his recent public stance against the excessive sexualization of women. It said he drew a professional line, but the footage remained intact in the final edit. Kapoor did not comment on the post, but users claimed they liked it. Screenshots of the alleged like went viral, although it is no longer visible on the post.
Much of the criticism also focused on the film’s love track. whose scenes the audience has objected to pedi Says he wants to touch Achiyamma without her consent because she will never agree to love him, and his father will never agree to their marriage. Later during a power cut he kisses her without consent. When Achiamma cries, another male character tells her to forget it for the sake of her father’s political career.
Many viewers have said that these actions amount to assault, especially because he is treated as a villain for violating another character in a different scene.
India Today said in its review that the biggest problem of the film is the character of Janhvi Kapoor. Part of the review reads, “The film’s biggest problem, however, is neither technical nor narrative. It is Janhvi Kapoor’s character. The issue is not just that the romantic track feels disconnected from the central story. The issue is how the character is conceived and presented. Almost every scene featuring her seems built around objectification rather than character development.”
pedi Released in theaters on 4 June.