The Supreme Court has directed the makers of ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ to change the film’s title and file an affidavit confirming the new name. The court warned that the movie will not be allowed to release unless the controversial title is withdrawn.
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On Thursday afternoon, the Supreme Court pulled up Netflix and filmmaker Neeraj Pandey over the title of the upcoming film ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’. The judges made it clear: change the name, and tell us what the new one is, or the film may not see the light of day.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan did not mince words. The court said it does not want any community to feel insulted or targeted by the title.
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“We don’t want anybody to be denigrated like this,” the bench observed. The judges asked the makers to file an affidavit confirming that the title will be changed, and to submit the new name as well.
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The court also reminded the filmmakers that while freedom of speech is protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, it is not without limits.
“We are fully respecting the right under 19(1)(a). But there are certain restrictions,” the bench said. The judges stressed the importance of fraternity, calling it a basic principle of the Constitution. They questioned why a film title should create division when society is already facing tensions.
“Being woke is one thing. But denigrating the public and creating this kind of unrest. You are adding to the unrest,” the court remarked.
According to the producer’s counsel, the film is a fictional, reformative police drama. It has not yet been released.
When the court asked, “What is the name of the film now?”, the producer’s lawyer admitted that a new title has not yet been decided. However, he assured the bench that the revised name would not create any conflict.
“We have withdrawn the title. We will put something else,” the counsel said.
The court responded firmly: “You make a submission that you will not have this title. You tell us the new name, otherwise we will not permit release of this film.”
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that simply changing the name may not be enough. He claimed the issue goes deeper than the title. According to him, the narrative allegedly compares temple offerings (dakshina) to “ghoos” (bribe), which he said hurts religious sentiments.
“When we go to temple and offer money to a pujari, they are saying it is ghoos,” the petitioner’s counsel argued.
However, the court noted that the film deals with a police officer. “There is no pandit or pujari in that film,” the bench said.
The petitioner’s side insisted that such a character does exist. The producer’s lawyer clarified that while there may be a character, the title has already been withdrawn and the film is yet to release.
At one point, a suggestion was made that the script could be furnished. The court, however, said, “Now don’t make too much of it. There are other issues also. So many communities are being targeted.”
The court has issued notice to the respondents. The producer’s counsel told the bench that steps are being taken to change the title.
“Say all this in an affidavit,” the judges instructed.
The matter will now be heard on February 19.
Before wrapping up, the court gave one more piece of advice: “Till then don’t create any ‘halla gulla’ about this matter. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.”
For now, the spotlight is not on the story of the film but on what it will eventually be called.
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