Ram Charan Defends Peddi Songs Amid Objectification Debate; Says Intent Was Never Misogynistic

As the release of Peddi approaches, actor Ram Charan has addressed criticism surrounding two songs from the film, 'Chikiri Chikiri' and 'Hallallallo', which have sparked debate online over their portrayal of female characters.

The songs, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Shruti Haasan, drew backlash from sections of viewers who described the visuals and lyrics as catering to the male gaze and objectifying women.

Responding to the controversy during an interview with journalist Navika Kumar, Ram Charan rejected the allegations and compared the experience of filming the songs to performing the Oscar-winning track Naatu Naatu from RRR alongside Jr NTR.

“If I enjoyed shaking a leg to Naatu Naatu with Jr NTR, I felt the same happiness working with both Shruti and Janhvi. I didn’t see any difference between the two songs,” Ram Charan said.

The actor emphasised that the filmmakers never intended to objectify anyone and argued that intent should be considered when evaluating creative work. He added that he would have been concerned if such an intention existed, but maintained that it was never the case.

Apart from the song-related criticism, the film has also faced scrutiny over the involvement of choreographer Jani Master, who was arrested in 2024 following allegations of sexual assault involving a junior colleague and was later granted bail.

Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi features an ensemble cast including Shivarajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu Sharma, and Boman Irani. The film’s music is composed by A. R. Rahman.

Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and presented by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings, Peddi is scheduled to release in theatres on June 4.