‘Is Raavan a Targaryen?’ Twitterati has field day over Prabhas’s Adipurush teaser

The excitement of actor Prabhas’s fans, who were eagerly waiting for the teaser of director Om Raut’s Adipurush, did not last long. Soon after the teaser was launched at an event held in Ayodhya on Sunday evening, the seemingly amateurish production was thrashed online. Netizens, who could not believe the poor standard of the visual effects executed in the film’s teaser, soon took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, to the extent that ‘#Disappointed’ began trending on Twitter.
Adipurush, based on the Hindu mythological epic Ramayana, will see Prabhas playing the character of Rama, while Saif Ali Khan will don the role of the antagonist, Lankesh. Actor Kriti Sanon is playing Sita. In one of the scenes in the teaser, Lankesh appears to be riding on what seems like a dragon (or is it?), astounding the viewers who were prompted to ask the obvious question: ‘Is this Ramayana or the Game of Thrones?’ Naturally, what followed was a torrent of memes ripping apart the teaser. 

Raavan Targaryen (conquerer of #Lanka, king of Rakshasa kingdom) with his #Balerion the Black Dread ( Pushpaka) which can travel at the speed of mind!!#DisappointingAdipurish #AdipurushTeaser #Adipurush #HouseOfTheDragon pic.twitter.com/TcY3pqHj15
— Indianwood (@lndianwood) October 3, 2022

Excellent VFX in #Adipurush teaser. The VFX artist must be the topper student at White Hat Junior. pic.twitter.com/5yohO93iqz
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 2, 2022

COPIED GAME OF THRONES SHAMELESSLY #Adipurush #Prabhas #AdipurushTeaser pic.twitter.com/UlXxeyjXhr
— R U M I (@iMalfoyRKF) October 2, 2022

Copy cat #OmRaut#Adipurush #DisappointingAdipurish pic.twitter.com/065cY7Nuyt
— Predator (@Predator_7894) October 3, 2022

Meet ‘PUSHPAK’ the giant bat
Isn’t he cute #adipurush #Adipurushteaser pic.twitter.com/f9I2KAvD9o
— ROOK | Vtuber (@callmeLORDROOK) October 2, 2022

Some had questions about the look of Saif Ali Khan, who appears in a fancy hair cut in a film of the historical fiction genre.

Nice Hairstyle #Raavam Bro #Adipurush #AdipurushMegaTeaserReveal #Cartoon Animated ramayan pic.twitter.com/tSqctcbnIY
— Gabbbar (@Gabbbbbbar) October 2, 2022

Presenting you guys all the desi versions of hit Hollywood movies & series…. #Adipurush #DisappointingAdipurish #Prabhas #SaifAliKhan #HouseOfDragon #HouseOfTheDragonHBO pic.twitter.com/HcbpzLUHPB
— …. (@_socialvegan) October 3, 2022

Puzzled by the teaser, which also shows a glimpse of the Vanar Sena, Hanuman and other characters in mediocre animation, many asked if the movie was animated or live-action.

Wtf is even that ?… #Adhipurush #DisappointingAdipurish #disappointed pic.twitter.com/TvMgzUuVZX
— Themaxfaxsurgeon (@Themaxfaxsurge1) October 3, 2022

700 cr Temple Run#Adipurush #AdipurushTeaser #AdipurushMegaTeaserLaunch #Disappointed #Animated pic.twitter.com/fH4B6k55iv
— Prem Sharma (@imprem858) October 2, 2022

Exclusive: #Adipurush satellite rights bagged by POGO channel pic.twitter.com/AAps23ORhe
— L E E (@trolee_) October 2, 2022

Even this 30-year-old animated #Ramayan looks more fresh than the animated #Adipurush lmao pic.twitter.com/ZNKWkPVlii
— ٖ (@mannkahe) October 2, 2022

The occasion came in handy for the hurt Tamil movie fans, who exacted vengeance against their Telugu counterparts for trolling Mani Ratnam’s recently released Ponniyin Selvan: I.

#Adipurush Teaser
And these guys trolling us for #PonniyinSelvan pic.twitter.com/ZApb0Il99K
— AmuthaBharathi (@CinemaWithAB) October 2, 2022

Even our flop movie has better VFX

Puli >>>> #Adipurush pic.twitter.com/Gj1M13l6dV
— Abiyuth (@Abi__vj_) October 2, 2022

Bollywood and Tollywood disowning #Adipurush after the teaser release #Prabhas #AdipurushTeaser #Bollywood #Tollywood pic.twitter.com/OjuVIpMlsf
— R U M I (@iMalfoyRKF) October 2, 2022

After watching the response to #Adipurush teaser pic.twitter.com/YlxHmABIHr
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) October 3, 2022

While initially the humour was harmless, however, as is the trend in vogue, some soon began a campaign to boycott the movie for not ‘respecting Hindu culture’. And of course, Saif Ali Khan’s Muslim identity has also come under scrutiny. 

Ravan seriously

Yr ise to acche character pr cartoons m work krte h..pta nhi kya soch k inko yesa look diya …Hindu culture ki respect na kr sko to request h disrespect bhi mt kro#DisappointingAdipurish #BoycottAdipurush#BoycottbollywoodCompletely pic.twitter.com/xxec0eyklv
— Anamika✨ (@maa_ki_ladoo) October 3, 2022

@omraut This movie is an insult to Ramayan
Firstly why are Ravan and Hanuman not wearing Mukut?
What kind of hair cut is Saif given?he’s looking like Khilji
Ravan was one of d wisest Bramhin can’t see his Janva
Pls stop hurting our sentiments #DisappointingAdipurish #AadiPurush pic.twitter.com/SqVXTxKq7B
— Nik ™© (@bhatambrekar) October 3, 2022

Adipurush is scheduled to release on January 12, 2023. The film’s director Om Raut had announced earlier that the film will be released in IMAX as well as in 3D.  Meanwhile, as part of the film’s promotion, Prabhas will participate in the Ravan Dahan in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground on the eve of Dasara, where Ravana’s effigy will be burnt.