"Adipurush Was a Failed Attempt": Manoj Muntashir Makes a Candid Confession

By The Celebrity Hour Desk

Let’s be real—when Adipurush hit the theaters last year, it became the talk of the town, but mostly for all the wrong reasons. From the CGI to the controversial dialogues, the film faced a tidal wave of backlash. Now, months after the dust has settled, lyricist and dialogue writer Manoj Muntashir is stepping up to the mic with some brutal honesty.

In a recent media interaction in Mumbai, Muntashir didn't mince his words, officially dubbing the 2023 Prabhas-starrer a "failed attempt." But more importantly, as the buzz around Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated Ramayana reaches fever pitch, he has one major request for fans and the media: stop the comparisons.

"It is better not to compare Ramayana with Adipurush," Muntashir stated. "There should be no shame in admitting that Adipurush couldn't meet expectations. The people associated with the film worked very hard, but it was a failed attempt."

It takes guts to own up to a massive cinematic misstep on public record. Earlier, in a separate, emotionally charged interview, he even went as far as calling the film the “biggest mistake” of his life, admitting that defending the movie during its opening weekend was a massive blunder. Looking back at the heavily criticized, colloquial dialogues he penned for the film, Muntashir expressed deep regret. "The dialogues were extremely crass... When I look back today, I feel deeply ashamed. I don't know why I wrote them. What was I even thinking?" he confessed.

However, it wasn’t all regrets. The lyricist noted one silver lining from the Adipurush saga: its soundtrack. Proud of how the music resonated with the audience, he graciously passed the baton to the upcoming adaptation. "I hope the music of Ramayana matches that of Adipurush and goes beyond it," he shared.

Speaking of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana which boasts a staggering reported budget of Rs 4,000 crore and a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita Muntashir was full of praise, particularly for KGF star Yash, who is stepping into the shoes of Ravana. Calling Yash a "very good actor," Muntashir sent his best wishes to the new team, hoping they successfully take the epic story to the global stage.

As Tiwari's Ramayana gears up for its big Diwali release, the spotlight is firmly back on how Indian cinema handles its most revered epics. Muntashir has certainly learned his lesson the hard way, and his candid reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the immense responsibility that comes with adapting cultural heritage for the big screen.

What are your thoughts on Manoj Muntashir’s candid confession? Are you excited for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana? Let us know in the comments below!

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