Actor and activist Chetan Ahimsa slams team Vikrant Rona for "insensitive and stereotypical portrayal" of Dalits and Muslims

In his tweet, the Aa Dinagalu actor also commended the technical merits and performances of Vikrant Rona before going on to express his disappointment with the other aspects.

Chetan Ahimsa on Vikrant Rona

Kannada actor and social activist Chetan Kumar has come out criticizing the recent film Vikrant Rona in a rather blunt tweet. Claiming that the Kiccha Sudeep starrer featured an insensitive portrayal of Dalits/Bahujans and also stereotyped its Muslim characters, Chetan vociferated at the filmmakers and urged them to “stop exploiting caste/religion for profits without nuanced understandings of historical in/justices”.

In his tweet, the Aa Dinagalu actor also commended the technical merits and performances of Vikrant Rona before going on to express his disappointment with the other aspects.

“‘Vikrant Rona’—good technically & in performances. I was disappointed in its insensitive portrayal of Dalit-Bahujans as vicious/diabolical & stereotyping of Muslims. Filmmakers must stop exploiting caste/religion for profits without nuanced understandings of historical in/justices,” wrote Chetan Kumar who also identifies himself as Chetan Ahimsa.

Vikrant Rona features a Muslim character named Fakhra, a father to 11 children in the film. Similarly, a few sequences refer indirectly to certain characters that they belong to the Dalit community which, if not dealt with carefully, could come across as insensitive. Although Chetan Kumar hasn’t isolated these sequences in his latest comments, one could assume that he is referring to them.

However, the actor’s views on the matter did not go down well with netizens, especially the fans of Kiccha Sudeep, who didn’t mince words in responding to the tweet. While some of the responses slammed Chetan for trying to grab the limelight through his social/political views, a few others felt that director Anup Bhandari has every right to express his views.

“Being an actor never expected this comment from u. It's a film just watch for entertainment. If your point is valid then why U shown a handicapped women raped in ur MYNA movie. It's also giving wrong message to society... Guys like you make silly issues as Big for ur publicity,” wrote one user.

“Selective critisism is worst than jaathi dharma vaada,” wrote another.

Chetan Kumar has been a vocal crusader of social injustices and similar matters, and has dedicated a vast amount of his time and effort in these pursuits. The actor hasn’t shied away from condemning members of his own film fraternity and has singled out celebrities like Upendra and Darshan in the past over disagreements.

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