What have we done to creativity?: Peddi lyricist defends director in Janhvi role row

The debate surrounding Janhvi Kapoor's portrayal of Achiyyama in Peddi shows no signs of slowing down. Now, lyricist Anantha Sriram has weighed in on director Buchi Babu Sana's apology, raising fresh questions about creative freedom.

In Short

• The debate centres on Achiyyamma's portrayal and claims of hyper-sexualisation
• Sriram said a character's behaviour flows from the director's imagination
• He argued social media criticism was increasingly shaping public opinion

The controversy surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiyyamma in Peddi has taken a fresh turn, with lyricist Anantha Sriram publicly questioning director Buchi Babu Sana’s decision to apologise amid mounting criticism. Speaking at the film’s success meet on Sunday, Sriram suggested that the backlash over the character’s portrayal had sparked a larger debate about artistic freedom and creative expression.

The comments follow Buchi Babu Sana’s recent apology over the portrayal of Achiyyamma, which sparked criticism online for hypersexualising her character in the film and not giving her agency. Although the director promised corrective changes, Sriram stood by the filmmaker’s creative vision and questioned whether such criticism was undermining artistic freedom, asking, 'What have we done to creativity?'

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Why did Anantha Sriram question the apology?

Addressing the controversy, Sriram argued that a character’s behaviour is shaped by a director’s imagination and creative vision. He suggested that filmmakers should have the freedom to portray characters as they see fit without facing undue restrictions.

"A character behaves in a certain way because that is the director's imagination. It is a character created from that imagination. Today, there is a growing tendency to believe that only certain ways of thinking are right, while opinions amplified on social media increasingly influence public perception. If a director is not even given the freedom to portray a character in this way, what have we done to creativity?" he said.

Speaking at the event, he said that criticism on social media often influences public opinion and questioned whether directors were being given enough room to explore creative ideas. According to Sriram, restricting how characters are written or portrayed could ultimately affect artistic expression.

What did he say about the criticism of Achiyyamma?

Sriram also addressed criticism surrounding the film’s portrayal of romance and attraction. He argued that certain themes are often judged differently depending on how they are presented and questioned why some expressions are labelled artistic while others are considered vulgar.

The lyricist further suggested that Buchi Babu Sana’s apology may have been motivated by a desire to avoid hurting viewers’ sentiments rather than an admission of wrongdoing. However, he warned that continued pressure on filmmakers could discourage them from tackling bold themes in mainstream cinema.

How has the controversy affected Peddi?

Despite the ongoing debate, Peddi has performed strongly at the box office. However, discussions around Achiyyamma’s portrayal have continued to gain traction online, drawing reactions from viewers as well as public figures from the film industry.

Following the criticism, Buchi Babu Sana apologised and promised removal of scenes that were flagged 'vulgar' by many. With Sriram now publicly defending the director’s creative choices, the conversation has expanded beyond the character itself to broader questions about censorship, audience expectations and creative freedom in commercial filmmaking.

Peddi stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles, alongside Boman Irani, Divyenndu and Jagapathi Babu in pivotal roles.

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