Om Raut delays 'Adipurush' release to June 2023

Mumbai: Filmmaker Om Raut on Monday announced the release of his upcoming film "Adipurush" has been postponed till June 16, 2023, as its team needs time to present a "complete visual experience" to the viewers.

The news comes a month after the first teaser of the big-budget movie was heavily criticised on social media for the quality of visual effects as well as its depiction of Hindu deities.

The movie, featuring "Baahubali" star Prabhas in the title role of Lord Ram, was earlier set for release on January 12, 2023.

"'Adipurush' is not a film, but a representation of our devotion to Prabhu Shri Ram and commitment towards our sanskriti and history.

"In order to give a complete visual experience to the viewers, we need to give more time to the teams working on the film. 'Adipurush' will now release on June 16th, 2023," Raut said in a statement posted on Twitter.

“Adipurush” is Raut’s follow-up project to his 2020 blockbuster movie “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior”, which recently won the National Award for Best Popular Film.

The multilingual period saga also features Saif Ali Khan as the 10-headed demon king called Lankesh, Kriti Sanon as Janaki and Sunny Singh as Lakshmana.

The filmmaker said the team is committed to make a film that will make the country proud. "Your support, love and blessings is what keeps us going," he added.

"Adipurush" is produced by Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar of T-series, Raut, Prasad Sutar and Rajesh Nair of Retrophiles.