Protests Erupt Over ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ Film in India

The controversy surrounding the film ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, directed by Neeraj Pandey, has escalated into public protests across various cities in India. Demonstrators are voicing concerns over the film’s title, which they assert is derogatory towards the Brahmin community. The term 'ghooskhor' translates to ‘corrupt’ and has sparked outrage due to its association with ‘Pandat’, a colloquial term often referring to Brahmins or Hindu priests.

In Prayagraj, protests intensified as participants set ablaze effigies of Neeraj Pandey and the film’s leading actor, Manoj Bajpayee, in Subhash Chowk. Protestors are calling for Netflix, the streaming service set to distribute the film, to impose a ban. They accuse the creators of the film of targeting Hindu and Brahmin sentiments.

Similar protests were observed in Indore, where members of the Brahmin community, represented by the Parshuram Sena, burnt effigies of both Netflix and Bajpayee. They voiced strong disapproval of the film and escalated their demands by threatening to blacken the faces of the lead actor and the producer if their pleas for a ban were not met. One protestor stated, “We oppose the film; it should be banned, otherwise Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey will have their faces blackened. We demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Censor Board ban this film.”

‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ is characterised as a thriller starring Manoj Bajpayee in the role of a corrupt police officer who goes by the nickname Pandat. In response to the uprising against the film, Neeraj Pandey issued a statement indicating that the project is not intended to offend any community. He further announced the removal of all promotional content for the film, including a first-look teaser.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has supported the film's criticism and indicated that directives from the Centre influenced the withdrawal of promotional material. Additionally, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the filmmakers in Lucknow for allegedly hurting religious and caste sentiments, a move welcomed by the BJP.

‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ is expected to premiere on Netflix later this year, although a specific release date has yet to be disclosed. The ongoing protests and backlash raise questions about freedom of expression and the impact of cultural sensitivities in contemporary Indian cinema.