Omung Kumar defends 'Bhoomi' poster against plagiarism charges

Adulation over Sanjay Dutt's rugged look in the first poster of his comeback vehicle, Bhoomi, was immediately followed by allegations that director Omung Kumar had aped the poster of American director Joe Carnahan's film, The Grey (2011). But Kumar was quick to lash out at naysayers citing that the still used in the poster is, in fact, a scene from the climax of his film. He tells mid-day, "It's a shot in my movie's climax. It's not a standalone image that we shot to use for the poster. There are many Bollywood and Hollywood films that have similar posters. That doesn't warrant criticism."

The director intended to create a look that "bared the soul" of his film. "Sanjay sir's eyes do the talking; his grungy look and grit is evident in this image. The power of this film lies in the intensity of our leading man. If we don't show that, what should we show? Why wouldn't I bank on my actor's face? Baba is back and that's the message," he says, alluding to the actor's first outing after his release from jail.

Kumar points out that American actor Hugh Jackman's face was depicted in a similar fashion in the movie Logan, but few raised objection then. "Why single my film out? Anyone who understands art will tell you about the detailing in our poster. I don't give a damn about what people say. If need be, I will put blinders on. We've put sweat and blood into giving Baba a film worthy of his name. Trolls achieve nothing in their lives and derive pleasure by pulling people down," he says, adding that the team has designed four posters, which will put speculations to rest. "Once the trailer releases, everyone will shut up."