It is not just trade pundits and film observers who will be interested in the box-office performance of 'Adipurush'. A section of intellectuals and academicians are also going to keenly watch how its commercial performance is going to play out in the coming weeks.
'Adipurush' is based on the Ramayana. Lord Rama's life is history for the devout. It is fiction for atheists and politically-motivated individuals. If Prabhas' film becomes a blockbuster, a section of the intelligentsia and a lot of commoners, too, are going to mock Hindus.
Already, signs of this can be seen on social media. "We were expected to manufacture flying cars by 2023. But we are busy reserving a seat for Hanuman in theatres screening 'Adipurush'." This is the sum and substance of what a lot of Leftists are saying on social media.
If this sort of backlash against 'Adipurush' continues, Hindutva supporters will take it upon themselves to promote the movie with a vengeance. They promoted 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story' in recent times mainly because Leftists demonized those movies.
Hindutva votaries are hoping that 'Adipurush' will become a social phenomenon. If people in North India's many villages embrace the movie with enthusiasm, surely, Bollywood will learn another valuable lesson. Films based on Hindu Gods will be announced in the coming years. A film like 'Kantara' might already have been planned in Hindi by some or other director/producer.
Ideally speaking, 'Adipurush' shouldn't lead to polarization. The film is based on revered figures in Hinduism.
