Nitish Bharadwaj Critiques Ramayana, Questions Portrayal of Ravana

Mumbai, November 13 (Daily Kiran) : Nitish Bharadwaj, renowned for his role as Lord Krishna in the television series “Mahabharat,” has voiced his discontent regarding the depiction of Hindu mythology in the film “Ramayana.” He argues that the narrative undermines the strength of Hindu deities.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Bharadwaj raised concerns about how Ravana and the concept of Lord Ram’s avatar are portrayed. He criticized the film for depicting Ravana as a liberal, communist, or socialist leader.

Bharadwaj stated, “Ravana was also a molester of celestial nymphs like Rambha and Vedavati. The suggestion that he treated female servants with respect is unfounded. Rambha, whom Ravana assaulted, was like a daughter-in-law to him. Her husband, Nal-Kuber, cursed Ravana, stating that if he ever assaulted a woman again, he would be torn apart. This is not an act of goodness but a curse. Thus, portraying Ravana as a ‘liberator’ spreads a false narrative.”

He further emphasized that depicting Ravana as a liberal or socialist leader diminishes the necessity of Lord Ram, the incarnation of Mahavishnu. “It is crucial for our audiences to reflect on this. A film is not just about stunning visuals and performances; it must also reject false narratives, especially when it weakens our Hindu deities and misrepresents villainy. If this were done to another religion, it would be labeled as blasphemy.”

Despite his criticisms, Bharadwaj acknowledged some positive aspects of the film, praising Sheeba Chadha’s performance as Manthara and the production design.

These comments from Bharadwaj come in light of his long-standing association with mythological characters on Indian television. His portrayal of Lord Krishna in B.R. Chopra’s “Mahabharat” remains one of his most recognized performances, making him a household name. He has since taken on various mythological roles, including those of Lord Vishnu and Lord Ram.