Anantha Sriram's Criticism Anantha Sriram, a prominent lyricist, expressed his disappointment and shame over the portrayal of Karna in the movie Kalki 2898 AD.
Disagreement on Karna’s Characterization Sriram took issue with the film’s attempt to present Karna as a more sympathetic or relatable figure, which he felt undermined the complexity of Karna’s role in the original text.
Cultural and Epic Integrity Sriram emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of epic characters like Karna in adaptations.
Venu Udugula’s Response Director Venu Udugula, who is part of the Kalki 2898 AD team, responded to Sriram’s criticism.
Artistic Freedom and Interpretation Udugula explained that Kalki 2898 AD aimed to provide a fresh perspective on ancient characters by giving them a modern context.
Balancing Tradition with Innovation Udugula also highlighted the challenge of balancing respect for traditional texts while innovating for contemporary audiences.
Public Debate and Discourse This disagreement between Anantha Sriram and Venu Udugula sparked a larger debate about the interpretation of mythological characters in modern media.