_750x500_0.jpg?w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
While reviews for the south Indian versions of Baahubali: The Conclusion have been almost unanimously positive, the Hindi film has been ripped apart by many critics. Why this has happened is a debate for another day.
Besides calling the film's VFX quality poor, the reviewers have also pointed out what they see as problematic depictions. One such review comments on the lack of representation of 'non-Hindu culture' in the film. Obviously, fans of the franchise are far from pleased. While it was only to be expected that they disagree with the reviewers, many have gone ahead and turned the debate into a defence of the Hindu faith.
One such reviewer, who was not exactly enamoured with Baahubali 2, is Anna Vetticad writing for Firstpost. Although Anna was not the reviewer who wrote the 'non-Hindu' comment, she raises questions about Rajamouli's decision to maintain the status quo by endorsing the Kshatriya right to rule.
Anna had previously written a widely-read column, titled ‘The Rape of Avantika’, about the problematic portrayal of love and romance in the first Baahubali film and had earned the wrath of fans then, too. With the recent review, several have taken to using abusive language and bringing her assumed personal religious beliefs into the equation.
But Anna has been hitting back at trolls too, by highlighting some of the most bigoted tweets.
Pope piss drinker can't handle Hindu images https://t.co/06NFlnVtcD
— Destroyer (@Parashurama_666) April 28, 2017
Definitely the logical way to respond to a film review: assign a religion to the film & then attack.#BaahubaliTheConclusion #Bahubali2 pic.twitter.com/xj50AJgxsy
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 29, 2017
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 29, 2017
24 hours later, the troll army is still out,claiming that #BaahubaliTheConclusion has been targeted by critics because it's a "Hindu film"! pic.twitter.com/SYNapnYMgH
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 29, 2017
Ah, here comes the Pope. Inevitable, of course.#Baahubali #baahubali2 #Bahubali pic.twitter.com/nwLAW3IAPh
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017
Decipher this, if you can...#BaahubaliTheConclusion #Bahubali2 #MovieReview pic.twitter.com/6vnHAAlcJ2
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017
I repeat: this kind of response to film reviews is pretty routine these days...#BaahubaliTheConclusion #Bahubali2 #MovieReview pic.twitter.com/DWkqJQnL27
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017
Thank you for trivialising an issue that would concern you too if you were human. #Bahubali2 #BaahubaliTheConclusion https://t.co/aj5qRNH5g5
— Anna MM Vetticad (@annavetticad) April 28, 2017
While it's well within one's right to disagree with a reviewer's opinion, it has become common to subject them to vicious abuse whenever they write a negative review about a big star's film. Previously, a woman who wrote such a review of the Mohanlal starrer Pulimurugan on Facebook also went through a similar attack.