Home » Movies » Chetan Kumar Slammed For His Remarks On Bhoota Kola Portrayed In Kantara

Bhoota Kola as shown in Kantara is not Hindu culture, says Chetan

The Kannada activist-actor's remarks that Pambadas, Nalikes, Parawas and Bahujans are not Hindus triggered a row on social media.

ByShashiprasad S M

Published Oct 19, 2022 | 11:03 PM ⚊UpdatedOct 19, 2022 | 11:03 PM

Bhoota Kola animist form depicted in 'Kantara'. (hombalefilms/Twitter)

Actor-cum-activist Chetan Kumar has courted controversy with his social media posts. In a tweet, he said that “Bhoota Kola” — an animist form of spirit worship from the coastal districts of Tulu Nadu and other places — as shown in the recent film Kantara, is not “Hindu culture”.

The statement led to sharp criticism of the actor on social media.

However, standing by his statement that such worshipping was not Hindu culture, Chetan said that moolnivasis (original descendants) and Dravidians got mixed up with Aryan descendants, who came from central Asia around 3,500 years ago, which then paved the way for Vedic culture.

“Vedic culture has its significance and even our Constitution recognises Hindu as a religion. Everyone has the right to worship, guaranteed under Article 25 — Right to Freedom of Religion. Bhagavad Gita is a part of it,” he asserted.

Glad our Kannada film ‘Kantara’ is making national waves

Director Rishabh Shetty claims Bhootha Kola is ‘Hindu culture’

False

Our Pambada/Nalike/Parawa’s Bahujan traditions predate Vedic-Brahminical Hinduism

We ask that Moolnivasi cultures be shown w/ truth on & off screen

— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) October 18, 2022

**‘Moolnivasis are not Hindus’**

“The word ‘Hindu’ originates from Persia during the 6^th Century. Sindhu (river) eventually got pronounced as ‘Hindu’. So, we must understand that ‘Hindustan’ is referred to as a region.”

The culture and traditions of our original descendants such as Pambadas, Nalikes, and Bahujans are older than Vedic culture, Chetan pointed out.

“Panjurli, the divine spirit of a male wild boar worshipped as a part of ‘Bhoota Kola’, must be differentiated from that of Vedic culture. Vedic culture’s ‘Varaha’ avatar, Hindu god Vishnu’s avatar in the form of a boar, is different from that of Panjurli,” he clarified.

Similarly, Koragas (tribal communities) are Adivasis. “Discrimination still exists in our societies and we have been fighting for their rights. Hence, we ask that moolnivasi cultures be shown with truth on and off the screen,” he summed up.

Witness the beauty of our land, culture and the divine, in its full glory!#DivineBlockbusterKantara #Kantara @shetty_rishab @VKiragandur @hombalefilms @gowda_sapthami @HombaleGroup @AJANEESHB #ArvindKashyap @actorkishore @KantaraFilm pic.twitter.com/xU9wVtoRx8

— Hombale Films (@hombalefilms) October 19, 2022

Netizens slam Chetan for his remarks

Kannada actor Chetan Kumar. (ChetanAhimsa/Twitter)

Kantara’s director-actor Rishab Shetty is yet to react to the claim made by Chetan Kumar, with reference to “Bhoota Kola”.

Meanwhile, several prominent personalities from the Tulunadu region expressed displeasure with the controversial actor-activist for his remarks.

Former Tulu Sahitya Academy president Dayananda Kattalsar said: “Chetan has the right to express his opinion. But we strongly object to his statement that Pambadas, Nalikes, Parawas and Bahujans are not Hindus.”

“We all follow Hindu traditions right from birth to death. On what basis can one say that we do not belong to the Hindu religion?” he questioned.

Netizens also reacted sharply to Chetan’s remarks. They avowed that Hinduism is not just religion but a lifestyle that encourages worshipping the environment, animals, and nature.