Tenali Boy Madhu killed, who went to his lover’s house in Karnataka

The controversy surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal in Peddi shows no signs of fading. Even after director Buchi Babu Sana publicly apologised and promised to make changes, lyricist Anantha Sriram has questioned whether the filmmaker needed to apologise in the first place.

Speaking at the film’s success meet on Sunday, Anantha Sriram came out strongly in support of Buchi Babu’s creative choices. He argued that Achiyyamma’s character and behaviour were products of the director’s imagination and that filmmakers should have the freedom to shape their characters according to the demands of the story and its setting.

The lyricist also criticised the growing influence of social media on creative decisions. He questioned why expressions of attraction are often appreciated when conveyed in refined language, but branded vulgar when spoken by rural or tribal characters in their own manner.

According to Anantha Sriram, judging such scenes solely through the lens of sensitivity could eventually limit the scope of creativity in mainstream cinema. He suggested that Buchi Babu’s apology stemmed more from courtesy and his desire not to hurt anyone’s sentiments than from any admission of wrongdoing.

He further cautioned that if filmmakers are expected to satisfy every section of the audience, they may hesitate to explore bold ideas and themes in commercial films.

Peddi has faced criticism from some viewers over what they described as the hyper-sexualised portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyyamma. Certain romantic sequences also attracted backlash, with critics accusing the film of romanticising problematic behaviour.

In response to the controversy, Buchi Babu apologised and assured audiences that appropriate changes would be implemented.

Despite the debate, Peddi has continued its impressive box-office run. The film stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles, alongside Boman Irani, Divyenndu and Jagapathi Babu in key supporting roles.