Adipurush

Adipurush is a 2023 Indian epic action film written and directed by Om Raut. It adapts the Ramayana, centering on Raghav, a prince exiled from his kingdom, and his effort to rescue his wife, Janaki, after the demon king Lankesh abducts her. Prabhas plays Raghav, Kriti Sanon plays Janaki, Saif Ali Khan plays Lankesh, Sunny Singh plays Shesh, and Devdatta Nage plays Bajrang. The film was made in Hindi and Telugu, with dubbed versions released in several other Indian languages.

The story follows Raghav and Janaki during their exile in the forest. After Janaki is taken to Lanka, Raghav joins forces with Shesh and Bajrang, whose vanara allies help him prepare for war. The conflict culminates in a battle against Lankesh and his forces. The narrative draws on familiar episodes from the Ramayana, while using the names Raghav, Janaki, Shesh, Bajrang, and Lankesh for its principal characters.

Om Raut had previously directed Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, a historical action film released in 2020. Adipurush was a substantially larger production, relying on computer-generated imagery to create its settings, armies, and supernatural characters. The filmmakers announced the project in 2020, and principal photography began in 2021. The production included a large green-screen component, and the finished film was released in June 2023.

The film’s visual effects and character designs became a major focus of public discussion after the first teaser appeared in 2022. Following criticism, the makers postponed the release and said they would use the additional time to improve the visual presentation. The film eventually opened in theatres on 16 June 2023. It was produced by T-Series Films and Retrophiles, with Bhushan Kumar among its producers.

Adipurush also drew controversy over its dialogue and treatment of characters from the epic. The makers changed some lines after objections, including criticism that the language used by Bajrang was inappropriate. These reactions made the film’s release a prominent cultural debate as well as a major theatrical event. Its box-office performance was strong at opening, but reports of its overall earnings and reception varied across sources.

The soundtrack was composed by Ajay–Atul and Sachet–Parampara, with lyrics by Manoj Muntashir Shukla. Its songs and score were marketed as part of the film’s large-scale presentation of the Ramayana. Adipurush is therefore notable not only for its retelling of a widely known epic, but also for the controversy surrounding its adaptation, visual effects, dialogue, and production choices.