Tamil director Keerthiswaran, celebrated for his debut film Dude, is currently facing criticism for his alleged response to an influencer's critique of the movie. The controversy ignited after influencer Roshini Karthikeyan shared a screenshot of a direct message exchange she had with the director on her Instagram Story. The story has since been deleted but quickly spread across social media platforms, including X.
In her post, Roshini explained that she decided to share her honest criticism with the director after watching the film and a short interview clip. As someone who had spent her own money to watch the movie, she expected the filmmaker to be open to feedback. However, she claimed that Keerthiswaran's response was dismissive and indicative of his inability to accept criticism.
The screenshot circulating online purportedly shows Keerthiswaran telling the user to "go and get a life". Roshini then responded by expressing her disappointment in the director's handling of the criticism, suggesting it reflected negatively on his mindset and ability to accept feedback.
The online reaction to the exchange has been largely critical of the director. Many users on X have voiced their disapproval of Keerthiswaran's alleged reply, with some calling it "unfair" and lacking healthy views towards women. Others have commented on the quality of the film itself, with one user remarking, "Collection of cringe reels = Dude movie".
Dude, a romantic comedy featuring Pradeep Ranganathan, Mamitha Baiju, and Sarathkumar, was released in theaters on October 17 and is currently available on Netflix. The film achieved commercial success, grossing over Rs 113 crore worldwide.
This isn't the first time Dude and Keerthiswaran have faced controversy. Previously, the director received backlash for allegedly "normalizing" a "vulgar" dialogue delivered by Pradeep Ranganathan's character in the film. The dialogue in question occurs during a proposal scene where Pradeep's character makes an offensive remark to Mamitha Baiju's character.
In an interview, Keerthiswaran explained that the scene was based on his own friendships with women and the kind of interactions he observes online. However, many found this explanation inadequate and criticized the director for seemingly condoning inappropriate behavior.
Adding to the discourse surrounding the film, director Mohan G criticized Dude, claiming it sends the wrong message to the younger generation under the guise of progressiveness. He described a particular plot point in the film as "disgusting" and unrealistic, sparking further debate about the film's merits and impact.
As of now, Keerthiswaran has not released any public statement addressing the recent criticism regarding his alleged interaction with the influencer. The incident continues to be discussed on social media, raising questions about the responsibilities of filmmakers in responding to criticism and engaging with audiences.
