August 6, 2024: Janhvi Kapoor’s foray into Telugu cinema with her film Devara: Part One has generated buzz, particularly with the release of the romantic track “Chuttamalle.” This song, featuring Kapoor alongside co-star Jr NTR, dropped on Monday and has been met with a flurry of responses. While the peppy track has received praise from fans, including Kapoor’s boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya, it has also stirred controversy online.
“Chuttamalle,” a romantic song composed by Anirudh Ravichander and sung by Shilpa Rao, serves as a notable contrast to the previously released high-energy track “Fear Song.” The Hindi version of the song is known as “Dheere Dheere.”
Poor On Screen Chemistry of Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor Trolled in Chuttamalle
Despite the song’s upbeat nature, a segment of Reddit users have voiced their discontent, particularly criticizing the on-screen chemistry between Kapoor and Jr NTR. Comments have pointed out the 14-year age gap, with some users feeling it creates an awkward dynamic. One Redditor noted, “No chemistry between Janhvi (27) and Jr NTR (41). This pair looks so odd. Age gap is jarring (Let’s see if it’s justified in the movie). Jr NTR looks so awkward and out of place.”
The criticism didn’t stop there. Some users argued that Kapoor appeared significantly younger compared to Jr NTR, which contributed to an uncomfortable visual pairing. Remarks such as “She looks like a teen next to him” and “Jr NTR looks bored” have been frequent. One commenter even compared the song to a TikTok reel, suggesting that Jr NTR seemed disengaged and out of sync.
Other critiques focused on the visual aesthetics of the music video, with one user commenting on the “Instagram director with filters” look and another noting that Jr NTR’s attire made him look shorter in contrast to Kapoor.
On the flip side, the song has been lauded by some, and Kapoor’s personal circle, including her boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya, has expressed support. The film Devara: Part One, directed by Koratala Siva and produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts, is set to hit theaters in September 2024. The film also features Saif Ali Khan in a significant role, adding to the film’s anticipated appeal.
As the release date approaches, it remains to be seen how the full film will be received and whether it will address or resolve the concerns raised by early reactions to “Chuttamalle.”