After ‘Kantara’ remarks, Kannada actor Chetan Kumar backs Veeragase portrayal in ‘Head Bush’

Having seen ‘Head Bush’, current demands to cut portions of movie as they may be so-called ‘offensive’ to certain sections goes against creative liberties

A film—after receiving censor board permission—must be given freedom to portray

Disagreement is democratic; threats are not

— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) October 27, 2022

A film—after receiving censor board permission—must be given freedom to portray. Disagreement is democratic; threats are not,” he said, backing the movie.

Even as critics have alleged that the art form was insulted in ‘Head Bush’, a section of social media users have defended the portrayal of the art form by digging up scenes from movies made in the past which “appeared to have hurt Hindu sentiments”. In one of the scenes in an old Kannada movie that is being widely circulated in social media, a character in Veeragase costume is seen chopping the head of another character. Another movie clip starring Upendra showed a Brahmin priest being forced to consume liquor.

ಹೆಡ್ ಬುಷ್ ಚಿತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ವೀರಗಾಸೆ ಕುಣಿತಕ್ಕೆ ಅಪಮಾನವಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂಬ ಚರ್ಚೆ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಹಾಗೂ ಜಾಲತಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾರಿ ಚರ್ಚೆಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾಗಿದೆ. ವೀರಗಾಸೆ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ಜಾನಪದ ಪರಂಪರೆ. ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವೂ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮನೋರಂಜನಾ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮದಿಂದ ಜಾನಪದ ಸಂಸ್ಕ್ರತಿಗೆ ಅವಮಾನವಾಗದಂತೆ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ನಮ್ಮೆಲ್ಲರ ಜವಾಬ್ದಾರಿ. (1/2)

— Sunil Kumar Karkala (@karkalasunil) October 26, 2022

On Wednesday, even Kannada and Culture minister V Sunil Kumar weighed in on the debate over Veeragase portrayal in the movie. “Veeragase is a proud tradition of Kannada (Karnataka). It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the folk art is not insulted in films or any other form of entertainment,” he said.

If the art form was insulted in ‘Head Bush’, the producer and director of the movie should have a rethink, the minister added.

These remarks however, did not go down well with the fans of Dhananjaya. Quoting the tweet by the minister, lawyer Vinay Sreenivas said that it was now clear who was targeting Dhananjaya.

“People of Karnataka should be alert. The cowards from Sangh Parivar will not allow any independent voice to grow,” he tweeted.

It can be recalled that actor Chetan was booked by Bengaluru police over his remarks about ‘Kantara’. He had maintained that ‘Bhoota Kola’ depicted in the movie was not part of Hindu culture as claimed in the movie. Karnataka had its own culture and tradition even before Hindu religion began, he remarked.