The controversy surrounding Ram Charan’s latest film Peddi began with criticism over its portrayal of women, particularly the treatment of Janhvi Kapoor’s character Achiyamma. However, the debate has since expanded into a larger discussion about women’s representation in Telugu cinema and the limited agency female actors often have within mainstream commercial frameworks. Following the backlash, director Buchi Babu Sana issued a public apology, stating that he “respects women” and promising to edit the scenes that drew criticism.
However, the problem with Peddi runs deeper than a few objectionable scenes.
