Kannada actor Sudeep is in support of the recent film Mango Pachcha, which he said is a film that does not glorify drug culture and the sale of narcotic substances as critics claim, but rather is about the consequences of going down the wrong path in life.
Mango Pachcha got into trouble just after it was released. The movie shows a DVD seller’s life; drug use and illegal activities are central themes. While the filmmakers say that the movie doesn’t glorify drugs (and even with that, there’s this notion that some scenes might romanticise or normalise drug use), some viewers and critics are concerned that they are in a situation where Mango Pachcha is in a box office battle with drugs.
Sudeep addressed these criticisms by saying that audiences should see the message a film is trying to convey, not the way their minds interpret it.
Mango Pachcha clearly shows how bad decisions can destroy relationships, family bonds, love and an individual’s future, he said. He said the film draws attention to the consequences of wrongdoing and serves as an object lesson rather than an endorsement of illegal activities.
Sudeep Draws Comparison with Om
In the interview, Sudeep referred to the famous Kannada film Om with Shiva Rajkumar to explain his view.
Om, which was released nearly 25 years ago, portrayed the world of rowdyism in great detail at a time when family-oriented films dominated Kannada cinema, he said. Despite watching the cult classic on numerous occasions, Sudeep said, audiences did not imitate the criminal activities shown on screen.
"I have watched Om 10 to 15 times. That doesn’t mean I picked up a machete and walked into the market," he said, saying that viewers are capable of distinguishing between entertainment and real-life behaviour.
He said people generally understand what lessons should be taken from a film and what should not be copied. In his opinion, Mango Pachcha sends the message that crime and substance abuse are bad things.
Director's Research Praised
Sudeep also defended director Vivek, saying the filmmaker had not made the movie casually or irresponsibly. “We spent a lot of time and effort preparing the project, and we have done a lot of research before we got to the screen,” he said.
And so it is nothing like the movie’s performance of drugs and crime, and the film tries to show what it is like to live this lifestyle.
Sanchit Sanjeev's Journey to Cinema
Sudeep also talked about the film’s lead actor, Sanchit Sanjeev. He revealed that Sanchit’s mother, Sujatha, had once hoped her son would become a doctor. But Sudeep always believed Sanchit’s true passion was in cinema rather than medicine.
As the actor joked, Sanchit’s six-foot frame seemed better suited for the entertainment industry than a medical profession. He thanked the young actor for his passion for films and expressed confidence in his future in Kannada cinema.
Sudeep’s comments have added a new dimension to the debate around Mango Pachcha. The audience and critics are split, but the actor says films are about how they are viewed; how they share and what message they convey, rather than what happens in individual scenes or themes.
