The head priest of Ram Temple in Ayodhya demanded an immediate ban of the movie ‘Adipurush’ alleging that the movie has wrongly portrayed the deities.

The head priest Satyendra Das said that the way in which Ravana has been depicted is absolutely wrong and condemnable.

"The way in which Ravana has been depicted is absolutely wrong and condemnable. Through the media, we demand an immediate ban on the film," Das said on the occasion of the annual Vijay Rath Yatra in Ayodhya.

"Adipurush doesn't show Lord Rama and Hanuman as mentioned in the epic either and hence goes against their dignity," he added.

The movie has been receiving backlash since its 1.46-minute teaser was launched on Sunday.

Fronted by "Baahubali" star Prabhas, who features in the title role as Lord Ram, the big-budget adaptation of the Ramayana shows Saif Ali Khan playing the role of a 10-headed demon king called Lankesh. With a beard, fierce eyes, and a buzz cut, netizens have called out the filmmakers for the apparent Islamisation of Ravana. The portrayal of Hanuman, with a beard, without a mustache, and dressed in leather, has also attracted widespread criticism.

Some social media users also criticized Adipurush's inferior visual effects, saying that the VFX was a "huge letdown" for a film that reportedly has a budget of Rs 500 crore, and is one of the most expensive Indian films ever made.

The film, which also features Kriti Sanon as Sita, is set to debut in theatres on January 12, 2023.