Lara Dutta defends Sai Pallavi's warrior Sita in Ramayana amid backlash, asks critics to stop being ‘small-minded’
Here's the latest update from the Bollywood world:
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been making waves at the ticket-window ever since its rollout on November 5. However, Sita's portrayal as a warrior who fights demons in the movie has raised eyebrows and drawn criticism from a section of viewers. Now, Lara Dutta , who essays the role of Kaikeyi in the movie, has defended the portrayal and urged people not to be small-minded.
Adding to this, Lara Dutta reacts to backlash over Sai Pallavi's warrior Sita in Ramayana. Lara Dutta defends Sai Pallavi's warrior Sita in Ramayana In an interview with NDTV, Lara defended Sai Pallavi's portrayal of Sita as a warrior amid the backlash, insisting that audiences should simply enjoy the cinematic experience. She pointed out that there are several versions of the Ramayana. She also noted that, considering the cultural practices of those times, boys and girls born into royal families were trained in both the arts and the use of weapons.
Meanwhile, She added, “So when you look at things like that, there are so many possibilities of what could have happened, should have happened, whatever. So I think it's not that far off or it's not that far-fetched to think that Sita was also possibly very much trained in the art of warfare. And especially, I mean, I just say that when you're put into a situation like that also as a woman, you're not going to be a helpless woman.”
Notably, Lara further shared that a character like Sita, who chooses to spend 14 years in exile in the forest, would also have to be resilient. “At some point, she will pick up something to defend herself. You have to stop being so small-minded, you know, and also embrace the cinematic experience,” she shared.
As per the latest buzz, Ramayana shows Sita wielding a sword and fighting demons alongside Lord Rama. She is also shown training children and local youths in combat. The portrayal of Sita as a warrior in Nitesh Tiwari's movie sparked a debate among viewers, with some questioning the creative liberties taken with a character deeply rooted in religious beliefs and mythology. However, the makers had earlier opened up that they had drawn inspiration for Sita's portrayal as a warrior from the Adbhuta Ramayana.
In further updates, The Adbhuta Ramayana depicts Sita's fierce and divine aspect, in which she assumes a powerful form, often associated with Goddess Kali, to defeat Sahasra Ravana, a thousand-headed demon. On the other hand, Indian audiences have largely grown up watching adaptations of Valmiki's Ramayana, including Ramanand Sagar's television series Ramayan.
On top of that, Helmed by Nitesh Tiwari and backed by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the movie stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The movie has crossed the ₹ 1,000-crore rupees mark worldwide within its first week. Made on a massive budget of ₹ 4,000 crore rupees, the movie is scheduled to rollout in two parts, with the second instalment set to arrive in 2028.
Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting widely shared pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical rollout or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments. Read More
Source: Hindustan Times