It was not too long ago that the Prabhas starrer Adipurush (2023), came under the scrutiny of the Indian general public for making a mockery out of Hindu religious sentiments while promoting the movie's run in theaters.
Based on one of the two important Hindu epics, the Ramayana, Adipurush, a Hindi-Telugu bilingual was showcased in theaters across India with one seat reserved for Hindu God Hanuman. This promotional strategy was based on the belief that Lord Hanuman is present whenever the Ramayana is recited or showcased on Earth.
Everyone has almighty belief in them i agree with tat..But these fools,what kind of promotion is this🤣🤦♂️.
— Vijay Monarch (@conqueror2206) June 16, 2023
However many including staunch Hindu religion believers saw this as an attempt by Adipurush makers—director Om Raut and T-Series producer Bhushan Kumar—to divert the brickbats Adipurush was receiving at the time of its release. True to the voices of dissatisfaction over the Hanuman seat strategy, Adipurush's dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir admitted that the film was more a modern take on Ramayana, than the Ramayana in itself.
"The film's name is Adipurush. We have not made the Ramayan; we are just inspired by it," - Manoj Muntashir after Adipurush's release
Two years later, Prabhas is making an appearance in another mythological film titled Kannappa, which is a Telugu movie based on the legend of a staunch Lord Shiva devotee. Kannappa, a Telugu film scheduled to release on April 25, 2025, is the topic of discussion after a weird statement made by actor Raghu Babu during a promotional event.
Raghu Babu who plays a character named Mallayya in Kannappa movie, stated in the presence of film's producer and lead actor Vishnu Manchu, that whoever trolls the Kannappa film will 'face the wrath of Lord Shiva and will be cursed severely by the Hindu God'. Naturally this was seen as a mockery of Hindu religious sentiments, just like the Adipurush Hanuman seat strategy, and some of the reactions online can be seen below:
Boomer uncles vibe is always worst
— NC (@NaniCore4) March 23, 2025
Idhemi blackmail??
— Equine2020 (@equine2020) March 23, 2025
https://t.co/FECAJMTU0S pic.twitter.com/oE036fruxI
— vignan Babi (@vignanbabi272) March 24, 2025
Buffoons u will incur the wrath of Shiva devotees bfr tht https://t.co/xnPpFan9nJ
— avantika (@avantikaaya) March 23, 2025
— 🕉️ (@PSV2898AD) March 23, 2025
I just remembered about the seat vacated for hanuman for every show of Adipurush.
— മൈക്കിളാശാൻ #തന്തvibe (@Mikhil_live) March 23, 2025
🤣🤣
— Arturooo!!🚁🚁 (@Guntheruu6) March 24, 2025
God card activated 🌝😂😂 https://t.co/IvUH3byaQM
— நிறை ☾ ♡ (@niraimathikb) March 24, 2025
the 4 horsemen of telugu cinema - man cosplaying as ram in RRR; makers of HanuMan donating 5rs from each ticket sold to ayodhya temple; team adipurush leaving 1 seat empty in each theatre for hanuman to sit & team kannappa for saying people who troll it will be cursed by shiva 😭 https://t.co/EKzHTsy9aT
— monashree | manja maakkan era 😚💛 (@beef_parotttaa) March 24, 2025
🤣
— Thinking (@ThotsUnavaibale) March 24, 2025
Warning for what lmao 😂
— Balaji Ravada (@balaji_ravada) March 23, 2025
The more they try to suppress....
the more critics will focus on this movie ....
Cha 🤣🤣🤒#Kannappa https://t.co/f5XV4rkcd2 pic.twitter.com/XsZTVNRJ9P
— Songs Lover (@Songs_Lover_) March 23, 2025
Warning people by the threat of god for a movie. https://t.co/6CpKSmh68W pic.twitter.com/wxjl0eBQeM
— Anuraag Peesara (@anuraagp15) March 24, 2025
Vitta Pilli Sooniyam vaipainga pola Audience ku, Padam Nalla edunga da atha vitutu Ipudi Istathuku pesathenga https://t.co/IlcvCURM7u
— Mahadev (@MDevv18) March 24, 2025
Kannappa has story, screenplay too by Vishnu Manchu. The movie is directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, and also stars Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal, Mohan Babu, Sarathkumar, among others. Kannappa is a joint production venture of AVA Entertainment, and 24 Frames Factory.