Why Adipurush, Inspired By The Epic Ramayan, Was A Box Office Disaster

Adipurush, positioned as a potential blockbuster, featured a popular lead actor, drew inspiration from the revered Hindu epic Ramayana, boasted a substantial budget, and even garnered support from some BJP leaders. This film, like others aligning with Hindu beliefs or nationalism, succeeded for some but faced backlash from its intended audience, despite claiming to be inspired by the Ramayana.

The Ramayana narrates the triumph of the Hindu god Ram over the demon king Ravana, who kidnaps his wife, Sita. Despite being made in Hindi and Telugu languages, the film failed to get critical and commercial approval. However, its fate took a rapid downturn as it faced widespread negative reviews upon release. Opposition leaders criticised the film, and two cities in neighbouring Nepal imposed a ban on all Bollywood films until the removal of an “objectionable” line from Adipurush.

Hindu groups called for a ban on the film, resulting in death threats for director Om Raut and writer Manoj Muntashir, who now have police protection. While Adipurush failed, The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story, despite being criticised for distorting facts and promoting Islamophobia, achieved significant box office success.

Anticipated to match blockbuster standards set by films like SS Rajamouli’s RRR, Baahubali, and Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan, Adipurush fell short, criticised for amateur acting and meme-friendly CGI. Critics mock its “video game” atmosphere, “clunky graphics,” absence of creativity, and references to Western fantasies like Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones, labelling its storytelling as two-dimensional and likening it to a school play.

Audiences expressed displeasure with Adipurush’s dialogues, deeming the use of colloquial language disrespectful to the portrayed deities. Criticism extended to the depiction of Ram, known as “Maryada Purushottam” or the ideal man, portrayed as an angry god. The film’s box office performance sharply declined after the opening weekend, catching even trade analysts off guard.