The makers of the upcoming Telugu movie Vakeel Saab unveiled a new poster on Monday on the occasion of Women’s Day. The Telugu remake of the 2016 Bollywood thriller drama Pink, will have actor-politician Pawan Kalyan reprising Amitabh Bachchan’s role from the original. The new poster features Pawan Kalyan with Anjali, Nivetha Thomas and Ananya Nagalla, the three female leads from the movie.
The makers of the movie took to Twitter to release the new poster and wish fans on Women’s Day. “Here’s wishing all the women out there a #HappyWomensDay from team #VakeelSaab #VakeelSaabOnApril9th Power Star @PawanKalyan #SriramVenu @shrutihaasan @i_nivethathomas @yoursanjali @AnanyaNagalla (sic),” the tweet posted by production house Sri Venkateswara Creations read.
Here's wishing all the women out there a #HappyWomensDay from team #VakeelSaab#VakeelSaabOnApril9th
— Sri Venkateswara Creations (@SVC_official) March 8, 2021
Power Star @PawanKalyan#SriramVenu @shrutihaasan @i_nivethathomas @yoursanjali @AnanyaNagalla @MusicThaman @SVC_official @BayViewProjOffl @BoneyKapoor @adityamusic pic.twitter.com/ctS6SqdDKW
The poster shows Pawan Kalyan seated in a wooden chair wearing a lawyer’s robes. He is seen holding a legal book in one hand and a baseball bat in the other. Anjali, Nivetha and Ananya are seen standing behind him. Shruti Haasan will be essaying an important role in the movie as Pawan Kalyan’s wife.
However, the new poster has also received flak for the way the women are portrayed in the poster. A section of netizens said that the poster implies that it is important for a man to fight for women rather than creating the space for women to stand up for themselves.
I mean, the audacity to portray a man as a saviour/protector of 3 women and wishing them a Happy women's day. Message #VakeelSaab #WomensDay pic.twitter.com/M4pKkwsaUV
— Saketh Govardhanam (@Sakethspeaks) March 8, 2021
And finally the women and also the main characters of #VakeelSaab found a place on the poster! It took a Women’s Day for giving the rightful place for women! *slow claps* #Pink pic.twitter.com/Kxd12VQ9Ez
— Anusha Sundar (@anusha16_) March 8, 2021
#VakeelSaab no wonder I always was insecure about the apparent vulnerabilities my gender came with. Then I saw the teaser, you know for a movie about women empowerment you don't seem to give a damn about the female leads #HappyWomensDay2021
— Pool Dead (@AuRoR_DrAcOnIs) March 8, 2021
PSPK domination even on Women's day
— Nikl_PhantomBeast (@nikl_RA) March 8, 2021
In the name of promotions they are not doing justice to this day#VakeelSaab #VakeelSaabOnApril9th #HappyWomensDay #HappyWomensDay2021 https://t.co/ZUJDBRRUML
Lot of difference from the first two .....
— Shakalaka Shankar (@ShankarComedian) March 8, 2021
This is not a #Pink Remake
అంతకు మించి❤#VakeelSaab pic.twitter.com/bJ0GhaCj7x
The promotional content and even the songs released by the makers of Vakeel Saab were also criticised earlier for shifting the focus entirely on Pawan Kalyan and ignoring the three lead women whose story forms the crux of the movie.
The movie is set to hit the big screens on April 9. The makers of Vakeel Saab made the announcement on January 30. “The POWER is set to unleash on the BIG SCREEN Power Star @PawanKalyan’s #VakeelSaab in theatres from April 9, 2021,” the tweet read.
The POWER is set to unleash on the BIG SCREEN⭐
— Sri Venkateswara Creations (@SVC_official) January 30, 2021
Power Star @PawanKalyan’s #VakeelSaab in theatres from April 9, 2021.#VakeelSaabOnApril9th#SriramVenu @shrutihaasan @i_nivethathomas @yoursanjali @AnanyaNagalla @SVC_official @BayViewProjOffl @BoneyKapoor @MusicThaman pic.twitter.com/rPj7LxLjJi
The Sriram Venu directorial has music by SS Thaman. PS Vinod will be handling the cinematography and Prawin Pudi is on board as the editor. The film is bankrolled by Dil Raju along with Boney Kapoor.
Pawan Kalyan has several other projects in his kitty. He will be seen in the Telugu remake of the Malayalam Ayyappanum Koshiyum. The project will mark the first-time collaboration between Pawan and Rana Daggubati. Pawan will be reprising the role of Ayyappan Nair which was played by Biju Menon in the original while Rana will play Koshy Kurien, portrayed by Prithviraj in the original.