Name : A Symbol of Respect or a Reflection of Discrimination?
In the society, a name is not just an identity — it represents respect, emotion, and position.
Some names bring dignity; and others are turned into jokes or insults.
Behind those names — like “Thagubothu Ramesh” and “Padma Shri Mohan Babu” — lies a web of social hierarchy and discrimination that still shapes our mindset today.
Recently, Visharadhan Maharaju, convenor of the BC–SC–ST Joint Action Committee, raised a bold question in a viral reel:
“A comedian like Ramesh, who played drunkard roles, is called ‘Thagubothu Ramesh’.
But another famous actor, Mohan Babu, played hundreds of villain roles in movies that often involved violence against women —
yet people respectfully call him ‘Padma Shri Mohan Babu’. Why the double standard?”
This question exposes how deeply our society’s respect system is influenced by status, hierarchy, and prejudice.
How Cinema Mirrors Discrimination
Cinema is said to be a mirror of the society — but that mirror is often distorted.
When a small actor plays a drunkard, that label sticks to his real identity.
But when a powerful actor plays a cruel villain, the audience separates the character from the man.
Thus, Ramesh becomes “Thagubothu Ramesh,”
while Mohan Babu continues to be “Padma Shri Mohan Babu.”
The difference lies not in art, but in social perception.
From Caste to Class — The Evolution of Bias
In the past, discrimination was based on varna — caste divisions of Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra.
Today, in cinema and social media, it appears in new forms:
“Big Hero vs. Small Comedian,”
“Star Family vs. Outsider Actor,”
“English-speaking vs. Local-speaking.”
The faces of inequality have changed, but the system remains the same.
Maharaju’s Logic — Simple but Powerful
Maharaju’s argument hits straight at the hypocrisy —
if society labels one actor by his role, why not apply the same measure to everyone?
It’s not about films anymore; it’s about our selective morality —
how we glorify the powerful and ridicule the powerless.
The Power of a Name — And the Prejudice Behind It
A name should reflect talent and contribution, not be used as an insult.
We must learn to separate an actor’s role from his real personality.
Mocking a comedian as “Thagubothu” while calling another “Sir” or “Padma Shri”
even when both are just actors — shows that our culture still equates respect with status, not with fairness.
That is not culture — that is conditioning. And it’s time to break it.
Conclusion — The Mirror Within Us
Names, titles, and labels are reflections of what we value. We laugh when we hear “Thagubothu Ramesh,”
but we grow uncomfortable when someone questions our heroes. That discomfort itself is proof that inequality lives in our minds.
Visharadhan Maharaju’s reel isn’t about movies — it’s about us. And maybe the real question we must all ask is:
“Is our respect genuine… or built on discrimination?”
-BY VEERAMUSTI SATHISH,MAJMC
READ IN TELUGU:
https://prathipakshamtv.com/taagubothu-vs-mohanbabu/