In the late ‘70s when legendary actor N T Rama Rao was at the peak of his career with several blockbuster films like Adavi Ramudu, Yama Gola, Driver Ramudu, Vetagadu etc, there used to be a talk that young heroines who paired with him would take pain killers after the shooting due to “rough handling” by him in dance sequences.
NTR would just beat the heroines on backs and buttocks and twist their arms as part of shooting, apparently to entertain the audiences. Of course, choreographers and directors of those days used to prefer such dances.
But those were not the days of electronic media or social media to troll NTR, though film magazines used to take pot shots at him for his “rough” behaviour towards his heroines.
Now, such theatrics and crude behaviour immediately gets trolling on social media and even on the electronic media.
Nauseating scenes of the hero kissing the heroine with his gutka-stench mouth have already been under heavy trolling.
Now, the latest video of sexagenarian hero Nandamuri Balakrishna’s ugly gestures with heroine Urvashi Rautela during a dance sequence in the song “Dabidi Dibidi” in his upcoming movie Dakoo Maharaj is all the more irritating.
In the past, he did some awkward hand gestures in the movie Paisa Vasool, which now seem tolerable, compared to his latest Dakoo Maharaj song.
In this Dabidi Dibidi song, Balayya is seen playing a mridangam on the item girl's back and buttocks, first using one hand and then intensifying it with both hands.
The director might have poor taste, but shouldn't Balayya have objected? What is more, he is not just an actor but also a public representative.
What message does this send to the people? Though his father NTR also behaved crudely in some film songs, but he was not a politician then.
Balayya should have kept in mind that his brother-in-law is a chief minister, his son-in-law is a de facto chief minister, and his fellow actor in Tollywood is a Deputy CM, before doing such ugly dance moves.
A public representative should consider his stature and public life. Balayya, who faced backlash for previous dialogues and gestures, should have been more cautious. Netizens are already reacting negatively.
Lastly, producer Nagavamsi should consider doubling Urvashi Rautela's payment and offer her free physiotherapy.