The much-anticipated trailer of Singham Again has sparked conversations online but not for the reasons many expected. While the trailer showcased Rohit Shetty’s signature action-packed entertainer formula, what truly caught attention was Deepika Padukone’s portrayal of Shakti Shetty aka Lady Singham. Playing a tough cop, Padukone’s exaggerated South Indian accent has sparked debate. Many are asking when Bollywood will finally move past the stereotypical South Indian accent portrayal, an issue that has been raised time and time again.
Deepika Padukone’s Accent Draws Criticism
Ever since it was announced that Deepika Padukone would join Rohit Shetty’s cop universe as Lady Singham, fans were excited to see her in action. However, the excitement soon seems faded when the trailer hit the internet, revealing Padukone’s character speaking in Hindi with a South Indian accent. This has once again brought the long-standing debate about Bollywood’s tendency to stereotype South Indian characters to the forefront, as netizens raises their opinions.
Fans were quick to react and started pouring in their opinions, calling it ‘cringe’, the word which also started trending on Twitter, flooding with reactions, with many users expressing their disappointment. A Reddit user, who identifies as Tamilian, penned a long note about his frustration, stating, “I’m writing this as a frustrated Tamizhan who has been seeing this for quite some time now… Deepika’s accent was so aggressively put on.” This wasn’t the first time Padukone faced such criticism. In Chennai Express, where she also portrayed a South Indian woman her accent was mocked by many, leading to a similar backlash back then.
The user’s note didn’t stop with Deepika, it also pointed fingers at director Rohit Shetty for repeatedly using stereotypical depictions of South Indian characters. The note continued, “This man is racist. Plain and simple. I remember watching Chennai Express as a kid and being genuinely annoyed at how much our accent, habits and culture were mocked for 3 hours.”
The director’s last theatrical release Cirkus, were also called out for portraying South Indians as caricatures. The note then sarcastically questioned, “His surname is Shetty!! Wouldn’t he know that they don’t originate from Tamil Nadu?!” This brings up a point—despite Shetty’s South Indian roots, his films often rely on exaggerated accents and outdated cultural portrayals.
As expected, fans took to social media to share their thoughts. One user pointed out such portrayals, saying, “When foreigners make fun of the Indian head bobble or Appu’s accent from The Simpsons, it’s called racist. But when Indians make fun of other Indian communities, it’s ‘just a joke’ or ‘light-hearted banter’.”
Another user noted that this issue isn’t specific to South Indians, stating, “Bollywood has stereotyped every language other than Hindi. As a Punjabi, I’ve seen Bollywood actors butcher Punjabi or make fun of Punjabis multiple times.” This comment sheds light on the larger issue of Bollywood’s frequent reliance on language-based stereotypes.
However, in contrast one commenter said, “I am Tamil and didn’t feel offended. I enjoyed Chennai Express.” The commenter highlighted that even Tamil films have sometimes portrayed North Indians in a less-than-flattering light. Still, a large section of netizens feels Bollywood needs to evolve. Another comment summed it up by saying, “It’s been more than a decade since Chennai Express was released, and Rohit Shetty is still stuck with that typical accent. Does he speak with a South Indian accent? No, right? Then why portray it in movies?”
The growing frustration isn’t just about this film or Deepika Padukone’s character. It’s about a wider trend of Bollywood clinging to outdated portrayals of South Indian culture.
While many feel proud to see their culture represented in films, it becomes frustrating when the portrayal feels forced or overly aggressive. As the film industry evolves, so must its understanding and representation of different cultures.
Also Read: Arjun Kapoor Overshadowed All: Netizens REACT On Actor’s Villainous Role In ‘Singham Again’
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