Ghooskhor Pandat controversy: Effigies of Manoj Bajpayee, Neeraj Pandey burned during protests

The controversy surrounding Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film Ghooskhor Pandat has moved beyond social media, with protests erupting in several cities over.

What demonstrators claim is an offensive title. Protesters have accused the makers of targeting the Brahmin community by using the word ‘ghooskhor’ (corrupt) alongside Pandat, a colloquial term often associated with Brahmins or Hindu priests.

Effigies Burnt, Calls for Ban

In Prayagraj, protesters on Friday burnt effigies of producer Neeraj Pandey, director Ritesh Shah and actors associated with the film at Subhash Chowk. The demonstrators demanded a ban on Netflix, where the film is slated for release, alleging that the film was made with the intent of maligning Hindus and Brahmins.

Similar protests were reported from Indore, where members of the Brahmin community, under the banner of the Parshuram Sena, burnt effigies of Netflix and lead actor Manoj Bajpayee. The protesters demanded an immediate ban on the film and issued threats to blacken the faces of Bajpayee and Pandey if their demands were not met.

“We oppose the film and demand that it be banned. Otherwise, Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Pandey will have their faces blackened,” a protester said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Central Board of Film Certification to intervene.

What Is the Controversy About?

Ghooskhor Pandat is a thriller that features Manoj Bajpayee as a corrupt police officer who is nicknamed ‘Pandat’. Addressing the backlash, Neeraj Pandey issued a statement on Friday clarifying that the film does not target or demean any community. He also announced that all promotional material, including the first-look teaser, was being taken down.

The Bharatiya Janata Party later claimed that the removal of promotional content was done following directions from the Centre.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against the makers of the film in Lucknow on charges of hurting religious and caste sentiments, a move welcomed by the BJP. The film was scheduled for release on Netflix later this year, though an official release date has not yet been announced.