The Crossbill News Desk
Acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli has found himself at the centre of an unexpected storm after remarks he made during the title reveal of his upcoming film, Varanasi, triggered objections from a religious group.
What began as an emotional outburst over technical glitches at the high-profile event has now led to a police complaint accusing the director of hurting religious sentiments.
The incident occurred on November 15 at Ramoji Film City, where more than 50,000 fans and film personalities had assembled for the grand unveiling of Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Multiple interruptions during the teaser presentation visibly upset Rajamouli, prompting him to speak candidly about his personal beliefs while addressing the crowd.
Rajamouli, who has long described himself as an atheist despite the mythological themes in his films, questioned divine intervention while recounting conversations with his family. His words quickly drew sharp reactions online, with many social media users alleging that the comments disrespected Lord Hanuman.
The controversy escalated when members of the Rashtriya Vanara Sena filed a police complaint against the director.
Rajamouli’s full statement at the event was: “I don’t have much faith in gods. This is an emotional moment for me. I don’t believe in God. My dad came and said Lord Hanuman will take care of things for me. After the glitch happened, I raised my voice at him, saying, ‘Is this how he leads me?’ My wife is a big admirer of Hanuman. She treats the God like her friend and talks to him. I expressed my anger at her too, saying, ‘Is this how he does things?’”
The situation is made more striking by the film’s own mythological elements; the teaser reportedly features a brief but impactful appearance of Lord Hanuman in a sequence inspired by the Treta Yuga, tying the story to ancient lore.
Rajamouli has yet to comment publicly on the police complaint or the backlash. Varanasi, envisioned as a global adventure rooted in mythology, is scheduled for release in 2027.
What began as an emotional outburst over technical glitches at the high-profile event has now led to a police complaint accusing the director of hurting religious sentiments.
The incident occurred on November 15 at Ramoji Film City, where more than 50,000 fans and film personalities had assembled for the grand unveiling of Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Multiple interruptions during the teaser presentation visibly upset Rajamouli, prompting him to speak candidly about his personal beliefs while addressing the crowd.
Rajamouli, who has long described himself as an atheist despite the mythological themes in his films, questioned divine intervention while recounting conversations with his family. His words quickly drew sharp reactions online, with many social media users alleging that the comments disrespected Lord Hanuman.
The controversy escalated when members of the Rashtriya Vanara Sena filed a police complaint against the director.
Rajamouli’s full statement at the event was: “I don’t have much faith in gods. This is an emotional moment for me. I don’t believe in God. My dad came and said Lord Hanuman will take care of things for me. After the glitch happened, I raised my voice at him, saying, ‘Is this how he leads me?’ My wife is a big admirer of Hanuman. She treats the God like her friend and talks to him. I expressed my anger at her too, saying, ‘Is this how he does things?’”
The situation is made more striking by the film’s own mythological elements; the teaser reportedly features a brief but impactful appearance of Lord Hanuman in a sequence inspired by the Treta Yuga, tying the story to ancient lore.
Rajamouli has yet to comment publicly on the police complaint or the backlash. Varanasi, envisioned as a global adventure rooted in mythology, is scheduled for release in 2027.
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