The special glimpse of Prabhas’ period action drama Fauzi, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, released on the actor’s birthday, has triggered a debate on social media. While the grand visuals, Vishal Chandrashekhar’s background score and Prabhas’ rugged appearance have impressed fans, the film’s character elevations and larger-than-life presentation have drawn criticism from several netizens.
Many movie lovers did not expect such an over-the-top mass treatment from Hanu, who previously delivered the sensitive romantic drama Sita Ramam. Although the World War II backdrop and references to historical figures such as Adolf Hitler and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have generated curiosity, the way these personalities are presented has become a talking point.
The scenes featuring Hitler and the elevation given to Prabhas’ character have particularly attracted criticism. Some netizens feel the buildup resembles the conventional mass-masala style, with supporting characters delivering exaggerated praise for the hero. Others argue that Hanu’s trademark natural storytelling and emotional depth appear to be missing from the glimpse, with the presentation reminding them of the loud elevation sequences associated with Boyapati Srinu’s films.
“If Prabhas is there, the mass and elevation will come naturally. Please don’t use great personalities like Bose merely for unnecessary buildups, Mr Hanu,” one of the sentiments circulating online reflects.
The references to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have also reminded some viewers of the portrayal of Trivarna, the INA intelligence chief and Bose’s close associate, in Devil. However, the most intense trolling has centred on Bose’s appearance in Fauzi. Several netizens have questioned the resemblance, with some claiming that the character looks more like Dr B. R. Ambedkar than Bose. The casting and makeup choices have consequently come under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, a scene in which Prabhas rapidly spins a gun has become meme material. Social media users have edited the sequence to make it resemble a sugarcane juice machine or an auto-rickshaw in motion, turning the hero’s action moment into comic content. The memes have added another layer to the online debate surrounding the glimpse.
Amid the backlash, director Hemanth Madhukar has urged viewers not to rush to judgment based on a few scenes. He pointed out that audiences do not yet know the full context of the exchanges between Hitler and Subhas Chandra Bose in the film.
“We don’t know the context of the dialogues between Hitler and Subhas Chandra Bose as a whole. We are picking on one reference to Fauzi,” he said.
Hemanth also expressed confidence in the commitment of Prabhas and Hanu Raghavapudi to the project, suggesting that the film has been made with considerable passion and love. He urged audiences to wait for the teaser or trailer before drawing conclusions about the film.
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