Director Buchi Babu Sana first removed scenes, then apologised, and now adds new ones. The extended cut arriving June 17 is his attempt to fix what audiences said was broken.
Janhvi Kapoor in Peddi
Ram Charan’s Telugu sports drama ‘Peddi’ is getting a second editorial life. The makers have confirmed that an extended version of the film will release in theatres starting June 17. The move comes after weeks of controversy over the portrayal of actress Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyyamma, and follows a series of editorial changes already made to the original cut.
Director Buchi Babu Sana announced the changes at a recent success event, stating that three new scenes will be added to the extended cut. Two of the new scenes are linked to Janhvi Kapoor’s character, and one additional scene features Jagapathi Babu.
Advertisement
Speaking about the addition, Buchi Babu said, “There are two more scenes related to Janhvi’s character. After watching them, the audience will connect even more with the character. I believe that with that, Janhvi’s character will reach another level.”
Advertisement
The announcement was made at a success press meet on June 14, attended by producer Satish Kilaru and director Buchi Babu Sana. The director confirmed that the re-edit process has already been completed.
Peddi, released on June 4, is set in 1980s Andhra Pradesh. The story follows a man from a nameless tribal village who battles systemic oppression and fights to secure basic legal recognition, voting rights, and a railway station for his community through sporting glory.
The film is directed by Buchi Babu Sana and stars Ram Charan, Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu, and Boman Irani. The original theatrical runtime stood at 189 minutes. The budget for the film was Rs 350 crore. The film’s music was composed by A. R. Rahman.
The film faced massive backlash over what viewers described as the hypersexualisation and objectification of Janhvi Kapoor’s character. Many pointed out that the camera lingered on her body through repeated angles. Social media users also said the makers normalised harassment and sexual assault by presenting it as a healthy romantic relationship.
The criticism largely stemmed from scenes that focused on the actress through repeated camera angles highlighting her navel, waist, and cleavage. Another scene that sparked outrage featured Ram Charan’s character kissing Janhvi’s character Achiyyamma. That happened without her consent. The act was later being defended as an expression of love.
Alleged chats showing Janhvi Kapoor and Ram Charan confronting director about these scenes also surfaced.
As backlash intensified, director Buchi Babu Sana issued public apology stating, “As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously.”
He added, “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. After reviewing the feedback, we have decided to make changes to the concerned portions.”
Sana also explained his directorial intent, saying he wanted to show the rawness of the character’s upbringing and later correct it through the arc of the story. He acknowledged that the execution had gone wrong in places.
Advertisement
