In a new development concerning the much-anticipated Telugu period action drama film, ‘Roudram Ranam and Rudiram’ (RRR), a Public Interest Petition (PIL) has been filed by a student from Andhra Pradesh. Alluri Soumya, hailing from West Godavari district, lodged the PIL in the Telangana High Court, seeking a stay order on the film’s release and a refusal to issue it a censor certificate.
The controversy stems from allegations that the film distorts the history of revered independence fighters Alluri Sita Ramaraju and Komaram Bheem, whose characters are portrayed by actors Ram Charan and Jr NTR respectively. Soumya argues that the film undermines the history of these genuine heroes, and she has requested for the film’s release to be postponed.
Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Venkateswara Reddy heard the case, with the decision still pending. Initially, the film was set to hit the theatres on January 7, but it was postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and concerns over the Omicron variant.
The film’s release has been eagerly awaited, with the entire team promoting it heavily and anticipating its imminent launch. Following the Covid-19 related postponement, insiders report that the team is now seriously considering alternative release strategies.
The film, directed by SS Rajamouli, boasts a star-studded cast including NT Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Olivia Morris, Samuthirakani, Alison Doody, Ray Stevenson, and Shriya Saran. It marks the Tollywood debut for Bollywood stars Bhatt and Devgn.
However, amid the ongoing legal controversy, director SS Rajamouli has clarified that ‘RRR’ is not a historical documentary. The film, he explained, is a work of fiction that uses the characters of real-life freedom fighters, focusing on the unknown years of their lives. His intention was not to retell their entire lives accurately but to craft a narrative around these intriguing, less-explored periods.
Despite the controversy and the legal hurdles, fans of the movie and its star cast are eagerly waiting for further updates. The dispute raises important questions about creative license in art and the portrayal of historical figures in the media, a subject which continues to generate passionate debate across India and indeed, the world.
