Mumbai: Trouble continues to grow for Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat as the controversy around its title takes a serious legal and political turn. What began as a citizen outcry has turned into protests, judicial intervention and even a so-called directive issued by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath to file an FIR against the producers and crew of the movie. Netflix is also reportedly rethinking the release of the project with the pressure on both sides.
FIR Ordered as Protests Intensify Nationwide
According to reports, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has personally instructed state law enforcement agencies to register an FIR against the director, producers, and other members associated with the film. This action is a significant increase in the controversy and becomes another item to be included in the list of difficulties the project has to deal with.
The teaser trailer of Ghooskhor Pandat, which translates to “corrupt priest,” triggered strong reactions across the country. Several organisations and individuals have objected to the film’s title, calling it “casteist” and deeply offensive. They state that the title propagates bad stereotypes and shows a disturbing caste-based thinking.
In Jaipur, the Sarva Brahmin Mahasabha openly opposed the title, stating that the issue goes far beyond cinema and entertainment. The organisation claimed that the name of the film has social connotations, which are not acceptable to the organisation and are negative and harmful.
Meanwhile, in Bhopal, members of the Brahmin community took to the streets, staging protests and demanding the immediate removal of the trailer. Further fueling the situation, protesters threatened to instigate a nationwide agitation in case their demands are not met.
Legal Battle and Netflix’s Big Decision
The matter has now reached the judiciary. The Delhi High Court has received a Public Interest Litigation opposing the title of the film and demanding a legal intervention. This change in the law brings a further doubtfulness to the future of the project.
Amid the growing backlash, Netflix has reportedly taken down the teaser and promotional material of Ghooskhor Pandat from its platforms. Previously, some speculation that the makers were thinking of changing the title of the film to lessen the controversy had been made. Nonetheless, new developments indicate that the streaming giant could go the extra mile and entirely remove the film off its upcoming schedule.
Sources indicate that Netflix is closely monitoring the situation and may take a final call based on legal outcomes and public sentiment. Should the platform choose to pull the project, it would be a significant blow to the makers and the team that worked on the film.
What Lies Ahead for Ghuskhor Pandit?
With protests spreading, legal challenges piling up, and Netflix possibly stepping back, the future of Ghooskhor Pandat remains uncertain. The next few days will be critical to find out whether a film will be changed in title, encounter additional legal challenges, or end up in the graveyard.
For now, Manoj Bajpayee’s much-talked-about project stands at the center of a storm that shows no signs of calming down anytime soon.
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