Ahead of release, Richa Chadha's 'Madam Chief Minister' receives flak
Bollywood actor Richa Chadha's upcoming film Madam Chief Minister, which claims to follow the tale of an "untouchable who rises to the top," has come under fire after the poster of the political drama was released on Monday. The film has drawn criticism for alleged caste appropriation and stereotyping the Dalit community. However, Richa has defended the movie. Here's more on this.
The first look poster was released on Monday
The first look poster, which features Richa in a never-seen-before avatar, shows the actor sporting a pixie hairstyle with bruises on her face. She is seen wearing a loose t-shirt and holding a broom in her hands. Richa had shared the poster of the upcoming political drama on social media, on Monday. The poster also has the tag line "Untouchable, Unstoppable" written on it.
Why is the poster facing backlash?
The poster has faced heavy criticism with many people calling out the alleged regressive portrayal of the Dalit community. Many Twitter users have expressed anger over an upper-class woman playing the lead role. Others have slammed the use of a broom in the poster, saying that it stereotypes the community. Some also said it is wrong to use the word "untouchable."
Film believed to be based on former UP CM Mayawati
Since the film is believed to be based on the life of former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, many Twitter users have also pointed out that she has a degree in science and even worked as a teacher before joining politics.
Richa has responded to the criticism surrounding the poster
Meanwhile, Richa has addressed the criticism surrounding the poster which has left many users disappointed. The actor replied to several tweets criticizing her movie and tried to clear the air around it. Responding to one of the tweets, she clarified that Madam Chief Minister is not based on the life of Mayawati, writing, "Thank you, However, film is not based on her (sic)."
This as humiliating as it can get, a user opined
The criticism is misdirected and premature: Richa
'Watch the film or at least the trailer'
A brief about the film
Written and directed by filmmaker Subhash Kapoor, the movie also features actors Manav Kaul, Saurabh Shukla, Akshay Oberoi, and Shubhrajyoti in pivotal roles. The film was shot in Lucknow in a 40-day-long schedule in late 2019. For the unversed, it was originally slated to be released on July 17, 2020, but had to be delayed owing to the coronavirus pandemic.