Ghooskhor Pandat row: Film body seeks ban on Netflix film over divisive title
FWICE has raised objections to the Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat's title, calling it derogatory. The federation warns the title may disrupt social harmony and demands its immediate withdrawal.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has raised strong objections to the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, which is being produced by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey under his banner Friday Filmworks. The federation has urged for the withdrawal of the film’s title, calling it derogatory and potentially divisive.
In an official statement, FWICE said it represents 36 affiliated associations and thousands of workers, technicians and artists from the media and entertainment industry. The body expressed 'serious concern' over the film’s title, stating that it appears to single out and target a particular community and its traditional means of livelihood in an offensive manner.
Why FWICE wants a ban on Ghooskhor Pandat?
According to FWICE, the title has the potential to hurt sentiments, provoke misunderstanding and disturb social harmony. The federation emphasised that there should be no division in society on the basis of caste, creed, religion or profession, adding that all professions deserve equal dignity and respect.
“The film industry, being a powerful medium of expression, carries a moral and social responsibility to ensure that its content and titles do not promote hatred, disrespect or unrest among citizens,” the statement read.
FWICE has appealed to producer bodies to refrain from registering or allowing film titles that are provocative in nature and capable of creating unrest. The federation strongly condemned the registration of Ghooskhor Pandat and advised Neeraj Pandey and Friday Filmworks to withdraw the title with immediate effect in the larger interest of social harmony and unity.
The statement also carried a warning, noting that if corrective action is not taken promptly, FWICE would be compelled to advise all its affiliated associations and members to distance themselves from any project associated with the producer.
What sparked the controversy around Ghooskhor Pandat?
The trouble began when Ghookhor Pandat's first look and teaser were unveiled at an event on February 3. The controversy surrounding the Netflix film, which stars Manoj Bajpayee, stems from its title, which many find derogatory toward the Brahmin community. The title combines the word ghooskhor (meaning corrupt or bribe-taking) with Pandat (a colloquial variation of Pandit), and many called this pairing defamatory and amounts to an attack on the dignity of the 'pandit community'.
What did Neeraj Pandey say on the title row?
Amid the controversy over the title of his upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey clarified that the project is a fictional cop drama and that the term Pandat is used only as a colloquial name for a fictional character, without any intention of targeting or commenting on any caste, religion, or community. He emphasised that the film focusses solely on an individual’s actions and choices and was made with a sense of responsibility, sincerity, and the intent to entertain, while also acknowledging that the title has hurt the sentiments of some viewers. In response to these concerns, Pandey said the team has decided to temporarily withdraw all promotional materials.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has raised strong objections to the upcoming Netflix film Ghooskhor Pandat, which is being produced by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey under his banner Friday Filmworks. The federation has urged for the withdrawal of the film’s title, calling it derogatory and potentially divisive.
In an official statement, FWICE said it represents 36 affiliated associations and thousands of workers, technicians and artists from the media and entertainment industry. The body expressed 'serious concern' over the film’s title, stating that it appears to single out and target a particular community and its traditional means of livelihood in an offensive manner.
Why FWICE wants a ban on Ghooskhor Pandat?
According to FWICE, the title has the potential to hurt sentiments, provoke misunderstanding and disturb social harmony. The federation emphasised that there should be no division in society on the basis of caste, creed, religion or profession, adding that all professions deserve equal dignity and respect.
“The film industry, being a powerful medium of expression, carries a moral and social responsibility to ensure that its content and titles do not promote hatred, disrespect or unrest among citizens,” the statement read.
FWICE has appealed to producer bodies to refrain from registering or allowing film titles that are provocative in nature and capable of creating unrest. The federation strongly condemned the registration of Ghooskhor Pandat and advised Neeraj Pandey and Friday Filmworks to withdraw the title with immediate effect in the larger interest of social harmony and unity.
The statement also carried a warning, noting that if corrective action is not taken promptly, FWICE would be compelled to advise all its affiliated associations and members to distance themselves from any project associated with the producer.
What sparked the controversy around Ghooskhor Pandat?
The trouble began when Ghookhor Pandat's first look and teaser were unveiled at an event on February 3. The controversy surrounding the Netflix film, which stars Manoj Bajpayee, stems from its title, which many find derogatory toward the Brahmin community. The title combines the word ghooskhor (meaning corrupt or bribe-taking) with Pandat (a colloquial variation of Pandit), and many called this pairing defamatory and amounts to an attack on the dignity of the 'pandit community'.
What did Neeraj Pandey say on the title row?
Amid the controversy over the title of his upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey clarified that the project is a fictional cop drama and that the term Pandat is used only as a colloquial name for a fictional character, without any intention of targeting or commenting on any caste, religion, or community. He emphasised that the film focusses solely on an individual’s actions and choices and was made with a sense of responsibility, sincerity, and the intent to entertain, while also acknowledging that the title has hurt the sentiments of some viewers. In response to these concerns, Pandey said the team has decided to temporarily withdraw all promotional materials.