The film 'Mahakavya Shri Ramayana Katha – Shri Ram Ki,' which premiered in theaters on September 25th, sparked extensive discussion on social media following its release. One viral clip featured a member of the monkey army wearing glasses, leading to criticism from the creators.
The creators responded to this criticism in an interview with India Today. They clarified that this image is not a scene from the theatrical film but rather promotional art. Furthermore, they challenged those spreading this image, asking them to provide proof of where this moment appears in the film, or to share a screenshot taken inside the cinema, or to specify the time code of the scene where the monkey in glasses is shown. They stated that they would publicly respond to such requests, emphasizing that distributing promotional imagery as if it were a film scene is misleading.
In addition, they announced that they will release excerpts from the theatrical version along with some viral claims so that viewers can compare the online photos being circulated with the actual scenes from the film.
Director Abhishek Singh noted that the producers are open to criticism, but they insist that this criticism must be based on the film that people actually watched. He stated that criticism is an integral part of the filmmaking process. He added that no one expects everyone's opinions to be the same, but the criticism should pertain specifically to the film shown to the audience.
Singh continued that when promotional arts, edited images, or various materials are distributed as if they are evidence of something within the film, the film creators have the right to present the real footage to the audience. He concluded his thought with a simple request: 'Watch the film, and then judge us.'
Meanwhile, actress Anjali Arora, who plays Sita in the film, also commented on the criticism related to her casting choice. She shared that she was judged based on previous work even before audiences had seen her performance. She stated, 'From the day my participation was announced, there were people who decided what my Sita would be without watching a single scene.'
Anjali emphasized that she always said, 'Do not judge Sita by your opinion; watch her on screen.' She added that if, after watching the entire film, she feels she did not perform well, she respects that opinion. However, she asked them to watch the film first.
Anjali expressed joy that families are gathering together. She noted that children ask questions about Ramayana, and parents discuss the film after watching it, and this kind of audience reaction is what matters to them.