Telugu star Ravi Teja has found himself at the center of a social media controversy ahead of the release of his upcoming film Irumudi. The actor, who has been promoting the much-anticipated project directed by Shiva Nirvana, is facing criticism after a video from a recent promotional event went viral online. The clip shows Ravi Teja interacting with child artist Baby Nakshathra (who plays his daughter in the film) and allegedly using a Telugu term that many viewers considered inappropriate for addressing a minor in a public setting.
The incident occurred during promotional activity with members of the film's cast and crew. In the now widely circulated video, Ravi Teja mentions "muduru munda" while speaking to Nakshathra and the actor and a few people on stage burst out laughing. When the young actress replied that she didn’t know what the expression meant, Ravi Teja said he would explain it later.
Many netizens criticized the actor, saying the language was inappropriate, especially when it was directed at a child artist at a public event. Many users questioned whether such expressions should be used in promotional programs that are widely viewed by audiences of all ages. The response on social media ranged from anger to full condemnation, with some users saying that the comment was inappropriate, no matter what context it was made.
And also some fans rallied around Ravi Teja. Some people argued that the phrase might have been a joke or a friendly one, and not a threat. A supporter of the actor told us that certain Telugu expressions are different in different ways depending on the dialects and cultural background and how the individual is living with the other person. It is not possible to draw conclusions in the context and the meaning of the statement given the situation with people at hand, he said.
The controversy has also made things worse: the meaning of the phrase itself. From a linguistic point of view, we tend to say ‘munda’ when we mean a woman but its meaning varies from region to region in Telugu. If we use "muduru," we are talking about maturity or age, intensity or depth, or we may mean that a particular word has changed by the time it is said. Yet everyone agrees that it is rude when we use it publicly.
However, the timing of the controversy is very apt since Irumudi is set to be released on August 21. Ravi Teja's first movie with the celebrated director Shiva Nirvana (who has directed emotionally charged films such as Majili). And the movie has received so much attention from the masses with promotional materials highlighting Ravi Teja as a fresh and emotionally charged character.
Apart from Ravi Teja and Baby Nakshathra, Priya Bhavani Shankar and Swasika play a key role in the film. Sai Kumar, Ajay Ghosh and Ramesh Indira are among the supporting actors. Music and background score for the film has been composed by GV Prakash Kumar and we are really looking forward to this film.
As the viral video is still going viral on the internet, neither Ravi Teja nor the makers of Irumudi have issued a public statement. How the issue will affect the movie's release is yet to be seen. We are convinced that the controversy is one of the most discussed issues among Telugu cinema fans to ignore the movie’s imminent release.
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