Bye-bye 2023: A year of controversies for film industry

Hyderabad: The year 2023 witnessed an array of controversies in the film industry. It also underlined various issues in the cinematic landscape.

Animal:

Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Ranbir Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna, `Animal’ courted controversy for its problematic portrayal of women. The film drew criticism in the Rajya Sabha, being labeled as a societal ailment. The alleged removal of the CEO of the Censor Board of Film Certification, Ravinder Bhakar, was speculated to be linked to the film's impact.

Baby:

The poster release of the small-budget film `Baby’ triggered uproar due to its offensive imagery, showcasing a man displaying an offensive gesture while the female lead stood in a posed manner.

Adipurush:

One of the highly anticipated films of the year, `Adipurush’ faced severe backlash. Despite its star-studded cast and director, criticisms emerged for lackluster performances, poor screenplay, disrespectful dialogues, and subpar VFX. Iconic cast members from the Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana openly criticized the film, and a petition seeking the movie's certificate revocation was filed (dismissed later by the Supreme Court).

The Kerala Story:

This film was accused of presenting a one-sided narrative and distorting facts, prompting allegations of being a propaganda film.

Deep Fake Video:

The rise of "deep fakes" caused alarm within the industry, targeting prominent actors, predominantly women. Concerns were raised by influential figures, leading to calls for preventive measures. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the issue, highlighting the need for investigation and corrective action.

Trisha - Mansoor Ali Khan:

The success of Lokesh Kanagaraj's `Leo’ was marred by controversy due to Mansoor Ali Khan's comments glorifying misogyny and rape culture. His remarks sparked outrage on social media, leading to a police complaint filed by the National Women's Commission against the actor. Trisha responded with grace, opting for forgiveness after a lackluster apology from Mansoor.

Deepika Padukone on Koffee with Karan:

The appearance of Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on `Koffee with Karan 8’ stirred controversy when Deepika's statement about her initial involvement with other men caused public uproar, suggesting she used Ranveer as a backup option.