Alongside Sekhar Kammula’s “Kuberaa,” the romantic drama “8 Vasantalu” is set to hit theaters on June 20. Backed by leading production house Mythri Movie Makers, the film is being promoted aggressively. However, its director Phanindra Narsetti has landed in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
During promotional interviews, Phanindra made statements that quickly went viral and sparked a wave of trolling on social media. Known for his debut film “Manu,” which was both a box-office failure and heavily criticized for its sluggish narration, the director returned after seven years with “8 Vasantalu.” But his comments questioning the “qualifications” of critics triggered a backlash.
“How can people question Mani Ratnam or comment on his movies? What are their qualifications?” he argued, questioning the credibility of reviewers. The statement led netizens to mockingly nickname him “Arhata Star.”
Addressing the trolling at the film’s pre-release event, Phanindra responded by saying that if he chose to put down his pen and focus on mass or commercial cinema, his job would become easier. “There’s an episode in 8 Vasantalu that shows what I can do with action sequences as well,” he claimed.
However, his remarks did little to calm the criticism. Social media users continue to troll him, with many suggesting he focus on proving himself as a filmmaker first before questioning audiences and critics. And with “8 Vasantalu” generating considerable buzz, the pressure is now on Phanindra to deliver. Or he would face intensified backlash if the film falls short.
