New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh) – In a significant move to uphold social harmony, acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has officially informed the Supreme Court of India that he has abandoned the title of his upcoming Netflix film, originally called Ghooskhor Pandat. The decision comes after the apex court raised serious objections, noting that creative freedom cannot be used to denigrate specific communities.
A Bench led by Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Thursday after recording the director’s undertaking. The court noted that with the “positive” step of withdrawing the controversial name and all associated trailers, the dispute should now reach a final “quietus.”
The Constitutional Boundary of Free Speech
During the proceedings, the court delivered strong observations regarding the limits of Article 19(1)(a). Justice Nagarathna emphasized that while artistic expression is a fundamental right, it is subject to reasonable restrictions concerning morality and public order.
“Why should you denigrate any section of society?” the Bench remarked, highlighting that the pairing of a caste-identifying term like “Pandat” (Pandit) with “Ghooskhor” (bribe-taker) created a defamatory stereotype. The court underscored that the Preamble’s principle of fraternity requires filmmakers to be responsible and avoid fueling social unrest.
Filmmaker’s Commitment to Reform
In a formal affidavit, Neeraj Pandey assured the court that the original title is “unequivocally withdrawn” and will not be revived. He further pledged:
- No Pejorative Echoes: The new title, yet to be finalized, will not be similar to or evocative of the original controversial name.
- Accuracy in Narrative: The revised title will strictly reflect the film’s plot—a fictional police drama starring Manoj Bajpayee—without causing unintended offensive interpretations.
- Removal of Content: All posters, digital teasers, and promotional materials under the old banner have already been purged from social media platforms.
Ending the Social Media Trial
Recognizing the sensitive nature of the case, the Supreme Court also issued a request to YouTubers and digital creators to stop prolonging the controversy. The Bench noted that since the creators have acted in good faith to correct the grievance, further online agitation is unnecessary.
The film, which features an ensemble cast including Nushrratt Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, and Divya Dutta, will now proceed with its post-production and eventual release under a new identity.
