'Wanted to show rawness': 'Peddi' director Buchi Babu Sana defends Janhvi Kapoor's scenes; reveals shots have been removed

'Peddi' director Buchi Babu Sana has once again spoken out about the controversy surrounding Janhvi Kapoor's portrayal in the film, confirming that certain scenes that drew widespread criticism for allegedly 'objectifying' her character, have now been removed. He also opened up about the film's original vision and inspiration.In an interaction with SCREEN, Buchi Babu Sana addressed the backlash and said, "In this film, I went a little radical because 'Peddi' comes from a remote place, somewhere far away from the hills. I wanted to show the rawness and later correct it in the end, saying that this guy is this way because of his upbringing and atmosphere. For such a character, he thinks he has to marry the woman he loves."He further confirmed, "In this process, a few shots turned misleading. We have taken corrective measures to remove them, and we have removed them."Buchi Babu Sana also shed light on what sparked the idea for the film. He recalled watching a fisherman swimming off the coast of Uppada without any protective gear, which made him reflect on untapped sporting potential across the country.He said, "I used to think this guy has the potential to play for nationals, win medals at the Olympics for our country. The spirit of sport is in the livelihood of this country. That is what I wanted to show."He also pointed to the Khelo India initiative as a key source of inspiration. He shared, "In 2017-18, Khelo India started with a vision to find players from every house and introduce them to the world. This became our primary source of inspiration."Emphasising the film's tone, the director stated, "This is not a commercial film. It is not just a culmination of five songs and fights. Actor Ram Charan wanted this to be an inspirational story, our Peddi's journey." He added, "Ram Charan and I wanted to tell a good story. That brought us together."Buchi Babu Sana had previously issued a formal apology via social media. "As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected," he had written, adding, "I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character."Since the release of 'Peddi', social media has been flooded with criticism over certain scenes depicting Ram Charan's character and his behaviour towards Janhvi Kapoor's character, Achiyamma, with many viewers calling it outright objectification.Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles, with Vijay Sethupathi, Boman Irani, Divyenndu, and Jagapathi Babu in key supporting parts.