UP Chief Minister orders FIR, Netflix trailer removed over Ghooskhor Pandat title
UP Chief Minister orders FIR, Netflix trailer removed over Ghooskhor Pandat title
Controversy swirls around the Netflix film as authorities move to curb the title’s spread and pull promos amid caste and community backlash.
A copy of the upcoming Netflix release Ghooskhor Pandat, featuring Manoj Bajpayee, has become the center of a political storm in Uttar Pradesh. The Yogi Adityanath government has ordered an FIR against the film’s director, Neeraj Pandey, in Lucknow for allegedly promoting social discord and hurting religious and caste sentiments, as well as disturbing public peace and law and order. The case was registered at Hazratganj police station, reflecting the sensitivity around the title and its reception among certain groups.
The Centre has also stepped in, directing Netflix to remove the film’s trailer from the streaming platform. In parallel, a Mumbai-based organization, Film Makers Combine (FMC), submitted a notice to the production house and to Netflix urging restraint in using the title, underscoring how swiftly the issue has spilled from a promo into a broader debate about social harmony and upheaval.
The row has quickly spiraled into a political narrative, with some groups alleging caste targeting given Pandey’s Brahmin background, and officials warning of potential protests if the content or the branding is allowed to proceed. Police have described the FIR as a prima facie action to address concerns about social discord and public order.
Neeraj Pandey has pushed back publicly, saying the film is a cop drama and not about any caste or community. He also indicated that he will pause all promotional activity for Ghooskhor Pandat to address the backlash and to reassess the messaging around the title. The director’s statement, along with the government actions and the Netflix takedown order, has kept this story at the forefront of cultural and political discourse in the run-up to the film’s release.
Other reports reiterate that while the project stars Bajpayee and is described as a thriller, the controversy surrounding the title has overshadowed the film’s premise, fueling a broader conversation about creative freedom, audience sensitivity, and the responsibilities of streaming platforms and filmmakers in a charged social climate.
