Santy Sharma calls Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming Netflix movie title ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ disrespectful
Bollywood rapper and singer Santy Sharma has recently criticised the title of Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming Netflix movie ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, calling it disrespectful and offensive to the Brahmin and Pandit communities.
Why Target a Specific Community?
Referring to himself as “a Brahmin by birth and Pandit by karma,” Santy questioned the rationale behind the choice of words from the community’s vocabulary when alternatives could have been neutral. He accused the creators of encouraging division in what he termed “New India” and said the title unfairly targets and defames a community.
“Why use a pejorative coupled with an adjective used for our community? Why do we need to couple it when there are lots of neutral ones?” Santy emphasised that such choices show cultural insensitivity.
Calls for Stricter Title Regulations
Beyond his personal criticism, Santy called for both the government and the film industry to put in place more rigid filters on film titles to avoid such incidents in the future that portray cultural insensitivity. His appeal comes amid growing concern about the portrayal of religious and caste identities in mainstream media.
Film Under Fire: FIRs and Halted Promotions
However, the Ghooskhor Pandat controversy does not end with Santy’s criticism alone. It is learned that FIRs have been filed and protests are being organized by members of the Brahmin community, causing the promotion of the film to be stopped. This has emerged as a potential stumbling block for the film ahead of its release on Netflix.
Director’s Defence: “Pandat Is Just a Nickname”
In response to the criticism, Neeraj Pandey, the director of “Ghooskhor Pandat,” clarified his position regarding the title: “Pandat is just a nickname given to a character in the film. There is no connection between this title and any caste or community.”
However, these clarifications have done little to appease critics, who argue that perception still matters, especially in cases involving community identities.
The Larger Debate
The controversy surrounding the movie “Ghooskhor Pandat” is yet another addition to the ongoing debates over representation, cultural sensitivity, and artistic expression in Indian cinema, as filmmakers continue to explore edgier storytelling.
