Actor Ravi Teja has sparked controversy after using a Telugu phrase that fans have called a slur against a child actor at the pre-release event of his upcoming film Irumudi on Sunday.
Read Full StoryDuring the event, actor Nakshathra CM, Teja's child co-star in Irumudi, asked him to give her a nickname.
Ravi Teja responded with a laugh, saying, “I’ll tell you later.” His response also became a point of criticism among those reacting to the video.
Another asked whether Ravi Teja would use such a term for his own daughter.
Actor Ravi Teja is yet to comment on the backlash.
Actor Ravi Teja has sparked controversy after using a Telugu phrase that fans have called a slur against a child actor at the pre-release event of his upcoming film Irumudi on Sunday. A video of the exchange, in which Teja addresses the girl, who is also his co-star, has triggered a heated debate online. While several viewers have criticised his choice of words, others have defended the phrase, arguing that its meaning and connotation can vary depending on the context in Telugu.
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During the event, actor Nakshathra CM, Teja's child co-star in Irumudi, asked him to give her a nickname. The actor responded with “Muduru munda”, a phrase that has been described by some users as a derogatory Telugu slur or a demeaning insult directed at a woman.
A video of the interaction has since been widely shared on X, with several users objecting to the choice of words, particularly because they were directed at a young girl. Some also pointed out that the remark appeared especially jarring at an event for a film centred on the relationship between a father and his young daughter.
The exchange drew further attention when Nakshathra said she did not know what the phrase meant. Ravi Teja responded with a laugh, saying, “I’ll tell you later.” His response also became a point of criticism among those reacting to the video.
Watch the clip here:
“What kind of language is this?” one user asked. Another wrote, “What this s**t man? Are you drunk?”
One user highlighted that the girl was a child and questioned whether the remark could amount to harassment under laws relating to children. Another asked whether Ravi Teja would use such a term for his own daughter.
However, the reactions online were not entirely critical. A section of users defended Ravi Teja, arguing that “munda” is not considered vulgar in every Telugu context. Some also pointed out that the word has appeared in the works of Telugu poets and writers, suggesting that its meaning and connotation can vary depending on context.
Read some comments (mostly in Telugu) here:
The debate, therefore, has centred not just on the words used by Ravi Teja, but also on how the phrase is understood in Telugu and whether its context changes its connotation.
The controversy came as Ravi Teja promotes Irumudi, an upcoming Telugu emotional action drama directed by Shiva Nirvana. Scheduled to release on August 21, the film follows an alcoholic father with a violent past who undertakes Ayyappa Deeksha at the request of his young daughter in an attempt to change his life.
The film also stars Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sai Kumar and Nakshathra CM, with music composed by GV Prakash.
Actor Ravi Teja is yet to comment on the backlash.
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