Social media users counter Kantara producers’ warning

Bengaluru: A note issued by the makers of Kantara Chapter 1 warning fans not to mimic the rituals in the film has triggered a storm.

On Tuesday, Hombale Films, the production house that made the film, posted a note on social media, describing such imitations as "inappropriate".

The film hit screens on October 2, and trade accounts on X report a blockbuster performance at the box office.

Many videos circulating online show members of the audience dressed in Bhootakola ritual attire and performing in and outside the cinema halls. Some clips also show people who seem possessed.

In an earlier statement issued on Monday night, Hombale Films referred to such acts as an "offence" and warned it would initiate legal action against those mimicking the lead character in the film. It deleted the post later, and issued a revised statement without the warning about legal consequences. Film buffs put up posts criticising and supporting the request.

Here is how netizens reacted:

Well-known actor and activist Chetan Ahimsa, called out the film's team for their "double standards". He wrote on X: "‘Kantara’ makers tell others not to emulate Daiva rituals. Hypocrisy is holding others to different standards than oneself. ‘Kantara’ makers can accrue exorbitant cr by twisting Daiva w/out any social concern —when others do it on personal level, it’s condemned? Double standards?" (sic).

Another X user wrote: "Why did they continue with the second part even after knowing this will create a lot of damage to the Daivaradhane belief system. Moreover if they continue this with part 3, their hypocrisy exposes that they just want to mint money in the name of Daiva stories/context."

Box office tracking account Karnataka Box Office wrote: "When films are made earning crores by placing Dhaivaradhane at the core and even increasing ticket prices by nearly 200 percent, what moral ground is there to preach others not to do the same? Is it that only a few have the right to make movie after movie and profit from it?" (sic)

An account by the name TakkariDonga wrote, "Stop virtue signaling. You guys are literally making money out of tradition. You guys didn’t make a not-for-profit documentary. Though, people doing in public places is wrong but that doesn’t give the right to you to be on higher moral ground." (sic)

Another user by the name of IAMprady wrote: "There is one humble request from the Tulu people actually...just don't cosplay the daiva. Other than that, show your reverence the way you deem fit. For example, learn about the inherent culture, the rituals, and their significance. Just not the enactment please." (sic)

Abhishek Chowdhury, another X user, wrote that the film was made with "good intentions" to let the world know the "sacred and beautiful rituals of our Sanatan Dharma". "Kindly refrain from humiliating a ritual and belief that is sacred to a large community. Such acts create hurdles in bringing such REAL FOLKLORE into the limelight," (sic) he wrote.

X user Ramaswamy questioned the makers if the "daiva was on Rishab Shetty when he made the movie". "He imitated that to gain money. Similarly people on social media are doing it to gain engagement. It’s the same according to me. Your production house doesn’t own the act,"(sic) he wrote.