Kamal Ghorui
The teaser of ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, starring Manoj Bajpayee in the titular character, was recently released at an event. The film quickly became the talk of the town, not for its content but for its title. Netizens slammed the use of the word “Pandat” in the title, claiming that it would associate a particular caste with corruption and bribery. Now, after the backlash, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has issued an official statement on the same. He clarified that the title didn’t intend to hurt any community or caste.
Neeraj Pandey’s official statement on the ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ title controversy
Neeraj Pandey took to his social media accounts to share that the Ghooskhor Pandat is a fictional character and the title didn’t intend to target any particular caste or community. He wrote, “Our film is a fictional cop drama, and the term “Pandat” is used simply as a colloquial name for a fictional character. The story focuses on an individual’s actions and choices and does not comment on or represent any caste, religion, or community.“The filmmaker further shared that he always works on his projects with responsibility. His statement further read, “As a filmmaker, I approach my work with a deep sense of responsibility—to tell stories that are thoughtful and respectful. This film, like my earlier work, has been created with sincere intent and solely to entertain audiences.”Pandey added that all the promotional material of the film will be removed temporarily, and he looks forward to sharing the film with everyone soon. The post read, “We understand that the title of the film has caused hurt to some viewers, and we genuinely acknowledge those feelings. In light of these concerns, we have decided to take down all promotional materials for the time being, as we believe the film should be experienced in its entirety and understood in the context of the story we intended to tell, rather than judged on partial glimpses. I look forward to sharing the film with audiences soon.”
‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ title controversy
The title received backlash online as soon as it was announced. A Mumbai-based advocate, Ashutosh Dubey, sent a legal notice to Netflix and the filmmakers demanding the title be removed immediately.Another advocate, Vinit Jindal, filed a petition against the film’s title in Delhi High Court. An FIR has been filed against the film in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, over an alleged “caste insult” in the title of the film.
More about ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’
Directed by Ritesh Shah, the film stars Manoj Bajpayee, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, Divya Dutta, Shraddha Das, and Kiku Sharda. The streaming giant has not yet announced the premiere date of the film.
