In legal soup, Manoj Muntashir issues unconditional apology over Adipurush – Beyond Bollywood

The Bollywood writer-lyricist had drew much flak over the disastrous, insensitive adaptation of ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.

By Mayur Lookhar

Under fire Bollywood lyricist-writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla has issued an unconditional public apology over hurting religious sentiments through the film Adipurush [2023].

Shukla posted the above apology via his Twitter handle. Disgruntled Ram, Hanuman bhakts, though, will question the timing as Shukla faces a flurry of legal cases against him. The Allahabad High Court had ordered Muntashir, director Om Raut, producer Bhushan Kumar to be present for the proceedings on 27 July.

Upon its release, the Om Raut-helmed, T-Series produced live-action film was universally panned and fizzled out at the box office after an initial run. However, murmurs of inorganic collection also accompanied this film.

Adipurush has been slammed for making a mockery of Hindu deities and the poor language, shocking dialogues that reduced the deities to ruffians.

Initially, Shukla appeared to be in a defensive mode as he first mocked the critics as anti-Ram bhakts. Later, he sent shockwaves by saying that his film is not Ramayan. He even claimed that the third rate language used in the film is the tone in which grannies in his home town [Gauriganj] taught Ramayan to children. The most bizarre statement came when Shukla claimed that Lord Hanuman is not a God, but the devotees turned him into one.

After the widespread criticism, T-Series had agreed to change few contentious dialogues. Shukla had acknowledged it but had still refused to apologise. Naturally, with the fear of arrest, the now controversial writer has issued a public apology. The criticism has stretched beyond Adipurush, after his wife Neelam’s old tweets supporting controversial journalist Rana Ayyub emerged. The tweets are to be verified though.

From projecting himself as a staunch supporter of Hindutva, Manoj Muntashir Shukla now has his credentials, ideology questioned.