"Art Is Not a License to Insult": Dr. Abhijit B. Patil Slams Ranveer Singh Over Chamunda Devi Remark at IFFI

Panaji, Goa — Acclaimed Goan filmmaker, legal historian, and public advocate Dr. Abhijit B. Patil has issued a scathing condemnation of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh following his controversial remarks during the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Singh, who allegedly made faces and derogatory references to Chamunda Devi, has drawn sharp criticism from the Goan Hindu community.

 “Art is not a license to insult. Stardom is not immunity from accountability. We will not tolerate the mockery of our deities. We stand for Dharma. We stand for Devi,” said Dr. Patil in a fiery statement that has since resonated across social and cultural circles.

Dr. Patil, who hails from Goa and is a prominent voice in both the film industry and legal advocacy, expressed deep anguish over Singh’s behavior, calling it a betrayal of cultural values and a disgrace to the dharma he claims to belong to.

“Even I am a Hindu, and I am proud of my religion. Ranveer Singh, despite being born into a Hindu household, has disgraced the very dharma he claims to belong to. His actions reflect not just a lack of cultural grounding, but a complete absence of reverence for the gods and goddesses who form the soul of this land,” he said.

Calling Goa his holy place of birth, Dr. Patil emphasized that this issue transcends cinema and touches the core of spiritual and cultural respect. He demanded a public apology from Singh—not as a formality, but as a moral obligation to the millions of devotees whose sentiments have been wounded.

In a heartfelt appeal to the Goan Hindu community, Dr. Patil also took the opportunity to educate and contextualize the sacred connection between Chamunda Devi and Shantadurga, two revered manifestations of the Divine Mother in Goan tradition.

“Both goddesses—Chamunda and Shantadurga—are manifestations of Durga, representing the dual nature of feminine divinity. Chamunda is the destroyer of adharma (injustice), while Shantadurga is the restorer of dharma (cosmic order). In Goan tradition, this duality is not contradictory but complementary. Chamunda clears the path by destroying evil, while Shantadurga restores balance and peace,” he explained.

Dr. Patil concluded by reminding the public that faith is not a prop for performance, and that cultural sanctity must never be sacrificed at the altar of celebrity theatrics.

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