Ghooskhor Pandat title row: Film body sends notice to Netflix, Neeraj Pandey

Netflix’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat, backed by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, has run into trouble even before its release. A prominent film body has sent a notice to Pandey and the streaming platform, objecting to the unauthorised use of the film’s title.

The Film Makers Combine issued the notice shortly after the project was announced, and its teaser unveiled at an event in Mumbai earlier this week. The organisation claimed that the makers had not obtained mandatory approval for the title, as required under industry rules.

In its letter, the body stated that filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, a registered member of the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA), had failed to apply for the title Ghooskhor Pandat. It warned that continued use of the title without authorisation could invite disciplinary action.

“It has come to our notice that a film titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ produced by you under your banner is being released on Netflix OTT shortly. As per our official records, you have not applied for the title. As per the rules and regulations of Film Makers Combine, unauthorised titles cannot be used. Kindly respond at the earliest to avoid any disciplinary action,” the notice read. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to Netflix for its information.

The issue gained further traction on social media, where several users questioned the film’s title, particularly the use of the word ‘pandat’, commonly associated with a religious scholar or priest. The pairing of ‘pandat’ with ‘ghooskhor’– which translates to bribe-taker – sparked criticism and gave the controversy a religious angle.

The dispute escalated after Mumbai-based lawyer Ashutosh Dubey reportedly sent a separate legal notice to Netflix and the film’s producers. The notice objected to the title, calling it defamatory and an attack on the dignity of the pandit community.

According to the legal notice, the combination of the two words is unconstitutional, socially provocative and capable of inciting disharmony. It further argued that freedom of expression does not extend to humiliating or vilifying a community under the guise of satire or fiction, especially when the potential for harm is foreseeable.

Ghooskhor Pandat stars Manoj Bajpayee as Ajay Dikshit, a corrupt and morally compromised police officer nicknamed ‘Pandat’. The film’s narrative unfolds over a single night and also features Nushrat Bharuccha and Saqib Saleem in key roles.

As of now, neither Netflix nor Neeraj Pandey’s team has issued an official statement responding to the notice.