[Watch] Ayushmann Starrer ‘Anek’ Promo Includes Odia Language After Backlash From Twitterati

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of severe backlash from twitterati for excluding Odia in the promo of Anubhav Sinha directed ‘Anek’, a revised promo has been released with director himself speaking in Odia.

The film, whose promotional video was posted on twitter handle of actor Ayushmann Khurrana who plays the lead role, on May 7 with the hashtag ‘JeetegaKaun? Hindustan’ in Hindi and several other official languages except Odia, which fumed Odia tweeple and caused dissatisfaction.

In the promo, several artistes, sportspersons, social workers and noted celebrities are seen speaking in total 23 languages. While Hindi was given call for three time, there was no mention of Odia.

Expressing his displeasure over omission of Odia, a person from Odisha tweeted, “Very Sad ! Odia, one of the oldest languages from the state of ancient Utkal (now Odisha), the kingdom of “Ashoka the Great” is not in the list. Your intention to drop Odia is unclear. How can we support you when you don’t consider us worthy enough?”

“What a Promotion…@ayushmannk thank you for forgetting #Odia ! Bengali, Maithali, Sindhi as part ? But you forget the oldest civilisation? Really,” posted another Odia.

The backlash on the social media platform led Sinha to come up with a fresh promo where he is seen saying “Jitiba Kie: Hindustan”. Many Odias have welcomed the revised promo in the comments section expressing their appreciation for including the language.

‘Anek’, which will be released in theatres on May 27, follows the story of a special cop played by Ayushmann and his daunting journey to neutralise a militant group in North-East India as part of his mission to safeguard the sovereignty of the nation.