In “Aadipurush”, Om Raut’s latest offering, we witness a tragically missed opportunity to authentically portray the grandeur and richness of one of the world’s oldest epics, the Ramayana. The film feels like a rushed, shallow cash grab that appears to trade in-depth understanding and representation of the revered text for a simplistic, almost naive narrative that does little justice to the original masterpiece.
It seems like Om Raut, the director and writer, didn’t put in any effort to truly understand the heart of the Ramayana. His work doesn’t feel like a labor of love, and it shows. The Ramayana, with its 24,000 verses is ripe with detailed character descriptions, environments, and profound themes. All Raut had to do was read it.
Aadipurush feels more akin to an uninspired ₹665 crore school play than a cinematic interpretation of a beloved epic.
Instead, Raut seems to have overlooked the beauty and complexity of the original text in favor of a cursory storyline, resulting in a production that feels more akin to an uninspired ₹665 crore school play than a cinematic interpretation of a beloved epic.
Consider, for a moment, the scene in RRR where Ram Charan slips into saffron attire, readying his bow to let an arrow fly. The meticulousness of his posture, his commanding presence, the deliberate play of light, and the resounding background score all stir the quintessence of Lord Ram. This one scene did more justice in potraying the essence of Lord Ram than the entire Aadipurush movie!
Contrastingly, Aadipurush falls short in distilling the true essence of Ram and the Ramayana in its entirety. Lord Ram, renowned as an exceptional archer, is portrayed lacklusterly by Prabhas, who holds the bow with an apparent absence of basic archery training. It’s as though the creators didn’t take the time to ensure this pivotal aspect of Ram’s character was portrayed with due accuracy and respect.
Another example that comes to mind is Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. It showcases his dedication to authentically adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic Middle-earth tale for the cinema. After years of detailed planning, designing, and research, Jackson assembled a passionate team to bring Tolkien’s world to life, and delivered a cinematic masterpiece that resonates globally.
Great cinema is born out of deep respect for the source material and a meticulous attention to detail
Rajamouli and Peter Jackson’s passion and devotion shine through every scene in their works, reminding us that great cinema is born out of deep respect for the source material and a meticulous attention to detail. Regrettably, “Aadipurush” comes across as a listless and spiritless project that was hurriedly thrown together, offering little more than a pedestrian rendition of one of India’s greatest epics. This lackluster attempt feels like a betrayal to those of us who love and respect the rich tapestry of our ancient stories and their potential for beautiful, meaningful cinematic experiences.