The Hindi film industry played a major role in popularizing element songs that evolved from the courtesan and cabaret dance performances seen in older films.While many of the Element songs are energetic and visually appealing, one important question remains. Do some films reduce women to mere visual attractions instead of giving them meaningful roles?The controversy surrounding ‘Peddi’ has sparked debates within mainstream South Indian cinema about a much bigger issue. While actors Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor performed brilliantly in the online chatter at the box office, Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal of the character Achiyyamma and how female characters are usually written in commercial films were under fire.
The ‘Peddi’ controversy
After the release of the film, discussions started on social media platforms. Several viewers questioned the importance given to Achiyyamma within the narrative. Some argued that the character had limited influence on the story and existed mainly to support the male protagonist’s journey.Criticism grew stronger as audiences discussed the film’s scenes and visual presentation.The backlash finally prompted director Buchi Babu Sana to respond publicly. He accepted the audience’s feedback and stated that changes would be made to the parts that received criticism.The interview gained even more attention after Janhvi Kapoor was said to have liked a social media post criticizing the treatment of her character.
Ashika Ranganath defends Janhvi Kapoor
Ashika Ranganath recently took to her Instagram stories to respond to Janhvi Kapoor’s criticism of her role as Achiyyamma in ‘Peddi’. The caption read: “Don’t blame the actor. Blame the system and the creators who still think this is what sells. Actors often work within their means in order to be part of bigger films and reach wider audiences. If female characters feel protected, they are more responsible for writing and making films than for women playing those roles.“Janhvi Kapoor reportedly mentioned it SreeleelaIndia Today reported that several screenshots were quickly circulated on social media over the past day. The alleged exchanges indicated that concerns over Janhvi Kapoor’s role may have predated criticism of the film.Among the messages that are being circulated online, Janhvi is said to have talked about the role that parents can play in films.Referring to actress Sreeleela, he reportedly suggested that the actress often accompanies her mother on work engagements.The screenshots also reveal that Janhvi reflected on how things could have been different when filming with her father, producer Boney Kapoor.
Savleen Kaur Manchanda She came out in support of Janhvi Kapoor
During the discussions, Janhvi Kapoor’s makeup artist Savleen Kaur Manchanda came forward to extend support to the actress via social media.On Saturday, she shared an Instagram Story with a post suggesting that Janhvi had questioned some scenes earlier in post-production. The post said, “It’s easy to blame an actress for the roles she takes, but the actual timeline tells a different story. Reports show that Janhvi Kapoor explicitly questioned these shots in post-production, a line that perfectly reflects her recent public stance against the industry’s habit of over-sexualizing women.“He also said: “He drew a professional line, but the final edit kept the footage anyway. This is not a case of an actor who didn’t stand up for himself. It’s a director who decided to ignore a limit because he decided his approval was less important than his box office numbers.”
Questions about women’s representation continue
The larger controversy surrounding Peddi also drew attention to recurring criticisms directed at mainstream Bollywood, Telugu and Tamil cinema. Over the years, viewers and critics have expressed concerns about the way women are presented in various commercial films.Many female characters have been seen as romantic additions or glamor elements in male-driven stories. Songs, camera angles and visual presentation have often become part of these discussions.
Similar controversies arose over other films
Coming to southern cinema, ‘Peddi’ is not the only film that faces such conversations. Similar controversies have arisen in recent years around several high-profile productions.
From “Pushpa” to “Kanguva”.
‘Pushpa: The Rise’ and its sequel created controversies about Rashmika Mandanna’s role as Srivalli. Samantha Ruth Prabhu“Oo Antava” also divided opinion among the audience.Questions were also raised over Allu Arjun’s ‘Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo’, where the audience discussed the treatment of Pooja Hegde’s character and how the heroine defines her beauty in the so-called ‘romantic’ opening sequences.Suriya starrer ‘Kanguva’ also got embroiled in similar controversies after Disha Patani’s comments about Angela’s role received attention online.Defending the film, Neha wrote, “Angela’s character is not the whole focus of Kanguva. She can’t dominate a 2.5 hour film! She’s basic, so yes, she was there to see the cuteness!!! (sic).”
‘Kattalan’ actor Kabir Duhan Singh on what makes ‘Good Cinema’
Recently, actor Kabir Duhan Singh shared his thoughts with ETimes on the factors that contribute to meaningful cinema. He told us, “Malayalam cinema has mastered the art of delivering high-quality films on limited budgets. What I really admire is the trust it places in its directors. It gives complete creative freedom, and I truly believe that when a producer trusts wholeheartedly in a filmmaker’s vision, good cinema happens.“
“Drishyam 3” star Dinesh Prabhakar says the character building remains the same
Actor Dinesh Prabhakar also spoke to ETimes about how performances and characters are carefully crafted during filmmaking.“Mr. Jeethu Joseph tells us about the characters in detail: small expressions or notes, and how much we should raise or lower the level.”He added, “Even if it’s a comedy sequence or a comedy sequence, we should keep it at a certain level. We can do it a little bit more, tone it down a little bit or in the middle.”Dinesh further said, “In that situation, how expressive the character should be, what kind of look should be, what kind of modulation should be used in the dialogue, what kind of volume and tone should be used – all these things are explained in detail. If we do it right, there will be no correction. On Jeethu sir’s set, the shooting atmosphere is very relaxed.”He further said, “There is no tension or pressure. The shooting proceeds as naturally as a normal dialogue. There is no tension for the actors. On some sets, the actors can feel stressed. Whether it is memorizing dialogue, movement or expression, there is none of that here. Everything is so beautiful.”Dinesh concluded by saying, “I have acted in Sathyan Anthikad sir’s films. Even then, I have said that we don’t even realize how they shoot.”
The way forward: towards a more respectful and nuanced representation of women
Interviews surrounding ‘Peddi’ indicate that audiences are increasingly paying more attention to storytelling options and character development, not just entertainment value.Focusing on Malayalam cinema, most filmmakers have produced a number of films that give women great agency, emotional depth and narrative centrality, often without relying on glamor or objectification. The best recent example is ‘Feminichi Fathima’, which showcases Mollywood’s strength in character-driven storytelling, prioritizing women’s voice and subtle empowerment.
