Lyricist and dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir has publicly labeled his involvement in the 2023 mythological epic Adipurush, along with his subsequent defense of the film, as the single biggest mistake of his career. Speaking on a recent podcast, Muntashir reflected on the overwhelming public backlash that followed the film's release, admitting his deep shame and asking for the nation's forgiveness.
Muntashir acknowledged that the film's dialogues failed to meet audience expectations and expressed profound disappointment in not doing justice to revered figures such as Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman. He confessed that he now looks back at some of the controversial lines with shame, unable to comprehend what he was thinking when he wrote them.
Early Warnings and Dismissed Advice
Months before Adipurush hit theaters, Muntashir recalled receiving warning signs. His wife had advised him against publicly defending the project, fearing he would bear the brunt of public outrage. Initially, he dismissed these early criticisms.
"In the beginning, I was a bit dismissive," Muntashir admitted. "It took me two days to understand. Adipurush was the biggest mistake of my life, and defending that film was an even bigger mistake. Whatever happened around the film, I'm very ashamed of it, and I beg the forgiveness of this country for all that had happened."
He now regrets not heeding his wife's advice sooner, recognizing that the public does not forgive arrogance.
The Film's Controversial Reception
Directed by Om Raut and starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon, and Saif Ali Khan, the ₹600 crore production aimed to bring the Ramayana to life on a grand cinematic scale. Instead, it garnered heavy criticism for its visual effects, character portrayals, and notably, its modern, colloquial dialogue choices. While Muntashir maintains that some of his previous comments were taken out of context, he accepted full responsibility for the writing, acknowledging the public criticism was justified.