SS Rajamouli on not paying tribute to Gandhi in RRR: 'It doesn’t mean I disrespect him...'

Filmmaker SS Rajamouli's latest blockbuster RRR has been the subject of many controversies. And one of the prominent ones is the way the film glossed over Mahatma Gandhi while paying tribute to India's freedom fight in the climax dance number Etthara Jenda. And critics of filmmakers have claimed that it was a deliberate attempt to serve a particular political agenda, which Rajamouli has denied. 

In a recent interview with an international publication, Rajamouli addressed by raising a counter-question to his critics. 

"There are numerous freedom fighters who laid down their lives to attain liberty for our country. I have heard many stories about these freedom fighters from childhood onward. Whichever stories touched me, made me cry, or made my heart swell with pride—those are the historic figures that I chose for that scene. I could also only highlight eight people in that musical number. I would need room for eighty in order to put all the figures that I respect in the movie. Still, I respect all of the revolutionaries that I chose, and, if I didn’t put Gandhiji’s portrait there, it doesn’t mean I disrespect him. I have huge respect for Gandhiji, no doubt about that," Rajamouli told The New Yorker. 

"My question is: If I were to replace Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s portrait with Gandhiji’s, would all these people ever question me, saying that I disrespected Subhas Chandra Bose by not portraying him there?" he asked. 

Rajamouli is now busy promoting RRR as the film's 'Naatu Naatu' song has been nominated for Best Orginal Song at the Oscars. The film's composer MM Keeravani has already bagged a Golden Globe for the song. The film starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan is being widely celebrated in the West.