New Delhi’s Supreme Court has thrown down the gauntlet against the upcoming Netflix film ‘Ghuskhor Pandit’, rebuking filmmakers for a title that allegedly tarnishes a specific community. In a stern hearing on February 12, the apex court emphasized that freedom of expression does not extend to humiliating any social group.
The controversy erupted over the film’s provocative name, prompting a petition that reached the highest judicial echelons. Justices, led by B.V. Nagarathna, issued notices to the Central Government, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and director Neeraj Pandey, demanding detailed responses. The court fixed the next hearing for February 19, underscoring the case’s gravity beyond mere cinematic nomenclature.
‘Freedom of speech is no license to defame communities,’ Justice Nagarathna asserted, warning that such portrayals could ignite unrest in an already polarized society. ‘With so many fissures in our social fabric, how can we sit idle?’ she questioned, highlighting India’s constitutional duty to preserve harmony amid diversity.
The bench stressed the responsibility of creative industries in upholding brotherhood, a value enshrined by the Constitution’s framers. Petitioners argued the title mocks Brahmin priests, fostering negative stereotypes and potential communal discord. In response, filmmakers informed the court they had pulled the trailer from social media and initiated a title change process.
Unsatisfied, the Supreme Court ordered a sworn affidavit detailing the new title and confirming no objectionable content targeting communities. This intervention signals a broader judicial vigilance against media that risks social cohesion, reminding creators that artistic liberty bows to societal peace.