In recent years, several films in Indian cinema have sparked intense debates and controversies, either before or after their release. Despite facing significant backlash, many of these movies managed to perform well at the box office or gained substantial viewership on OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and Zee5. Below are some of the most controversial films that grabbed headlines.
Maharaj (Netflix)
Maharaj is centered around the 1862 Maharaj Libel Case, where an honest journalist challenges a religious leader’s views on women in society. The movie faced severe opposition from the Vaishnavite community, leading to a case being filed against the makers in the Gujarat High Court for allegedly misrepresenting religious beliefs. The film’s release was delayed by a day after the Pustimargi sect raised concerns. The single bench judge, Justice Sangeeta Vishen, watched the film before approving its release on Netflix on June 21.
Pathaan (Prime Video)
The action-packed Pathaan follows an Indian agent racing against time to thwart an attack orchestrated by a ruthless mercenary. However, the film’s song “Besharam Rang” faced backlash due to Deepika Padukone’s outfit, a saffron swimsuit, which offended some Hindu groups who regard the color as sacred. The song’s lyrics, translating to “shameless color,” further fueled the controversy. Some protestors even burned effigies of Shah Rukh Khan in protest of the song.
Annapoorani (Simply South)
In Annapoorani, Nayanthara’s character was shown performing namaz in a hijab before preparing biryani. This scene was criticized by many, especially when a friend in the film encouraged her to cut meat and implied that even Hindu deities like Lord Rama and Goddess Sita consumed it. The movie faced accusations of promoting ‘love jihad,’ a term used by certain groups to describe interfaith marriages in a negative light.
The Kerala Story (Zee5)
This movie narrates the harrowing story of Fatima Ba, a converted Muslim woman who was abducted and manipulated by religious extremists to become an ISIS terrorist. After the teaser’s release, it sparked controversy when some political figures in Kerala demanded a ban, alleging that the film exaggerated the number of women from Kerala who joined ISIS, claiming it portrayed a misleading narrative of 32,000 women involved.
The Kashmir Files (Zee5)
The Kashmir Files portrays the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, focusing on a young college student who uncovers the truth about their suffering. The film ignited a legal dispute when a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed against it, arguing that its portrayal could provoke violence against the Muslim community. The PIL claimed that the film could hurt religious sentiments and escalate tensions.
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