The debate over the objectification of female actors in Indian cinema has resurfaced after the makers of Ram Charan’s Peddi faced brutal backlash over the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor.
Janhvi Kapoor’s character has little relevance to the narrative and is largely presented to titillate the male audience rather than contribute meaningfully to the story.
Chikiri was arguably the film’s biggest USP before release. The song became a massive chartbuster, and a significant portion of Peddi’s pre-release hype was driven by its popularity. While some objected to its crass and vulgar lyrics, it was expected that the song would create euphoria in theaters. Most expected it to bring theatres alive with whistles, cheers, and dancing.
Instead, the song was met with shocking silence inside theatres.
The biggest reason lies in the scene leading into the song. Just before Chikiri begins, Ram Charan’s character takes advantage of the darkness and kisses Janhvi Kapoor’s character without her consent. It was meant to be playful romance according to the director, but it almost comes across as sexual assault. The scene feels deeply uncomfortable and disturbing. Such behavior is typically associated with villains, not heroes.
A top-tier star hero is shown engaging in conduct that many viewers found difficult to accept. Rather than creating a romantic or emotional high, that highly objectionable moment leaves an unpleasant impact that carries directly into the song.
The problem does not end there. Even during Chikiri, the director and cinematographer repeatedly focus on Janhvi Kapoor’s pallu-less bosom, navel, and back, which turned out to be even more problematic for what was supposedly a romantic love-celebration song.
As a result, the viral sensation that was expected to bring theatres to a frenzy ended up receiving a flat response. Instead of whistles and celebrations, Chikiri was met with unusual and shocking silence in many theatres.
