Allari Naresh’s Ramba Oorvasi Menaka has landed in a censor controversy just days before its theatrical release. The fantasy comedy, directed by Chandra Mohan Chintada, is scheduled to release on September 4. However, the makers are reportedly struggling to get the film certified.
The film features Rashi Singh as Rambha, Vishnupriya as Oorvasi, and Prisha Singh as Menaka, with Vennela Kishore playing Indra. Allari Naresh reportedly plays a devotee who performs penance for the three celestial beauties. They then come to Earth and get caught in a series of problems.
However, the censor authorities have reportedly raised objections to how the divine characters are shown, especially their costumes and some comedy scenes. The film has reportedly been sent to the Revising Committee, with another screening expected on Monday.
Comedy involving mythological characters is not new to Telugu cinema. Films such as NTR’s Yamagola, Chiranjeevi’s Yamudiki Mogudu, Ali’s Yamaleela, and Ravi Teja’s Daruvu have used such characters for comedy. But things have changed. Religious and cultural issues have become more sensitive, and even small details can lead to controversy. Because of this, censor authorities are taking a more careful approach.
Interestingly, the title Ramba Oorvasi Menaka itself reportedly has no problem. The issue is mainly about how the characters are presented.
This is also not the only recent Telugu film to face certification problems. Korean Kanakaraju also faced concerns over some scenes and their possible impact on India-Korea relations. Many films even had to change their titles during the certification process after spending heavily on promotions.
The biggest problem for Ramba Oorvasi Menaka is the timing.
The release date, promotions, bookings, and other plans are usually decided months in advance. If censor issues come just days before release, producers have very little time to make changes. For small and medium-budget films, a last-minute delay can cause major losses.
Ramba Oorvasi Menaka now has only a few days to solve the issue. The Revising Committee’s decision could decide whether the film reaches theatres on September 4.
