The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has raised objections to the title of filmmaker Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming crime thriller Ghooskhor Pandat, stating that it could hurt sentiments and disrupt social harmony.
The film, produced by Pandey under his banner Friday Filmworks and starring Manoj Bajpayee in the lead role, was announced earlier this week. However, the title quickly sparked controversy, with politicians and several social media users describing it as casteist and offensive.
In a letter addressed to Netflix and other OTT platforms—including Amazon Prime Video, Jio Hotstar, ZEE5 and SonyLIV—FWICE said it strongly objected to the use of the title. “FWICE and all its affiliated associations strongly object to the use of this title, as it appears to single out and target a particular community and its traditional means of livelihood in a derogatory and offensive manner,” the letter stated.
The cine workers’ body, which represents 36 affiliated associations of workers, technicians and artists across the media and entertainment industry, also sent the letter to industry organisations such as the Producers Guild of India (PGI), the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) and the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC).
FWICE said that such a title has the potential to “hurt sentiments, provoke misunderstanding, and disturb social harmony.” It added that society should not be divided on the basis of caste, creed, religion or profession, and that all communities deserve respect.
The federation further appealed to producer bodies to refrain from registering or allowing film titles that could be perceived as provocative or capable of creating unrest. “FWICE strongly condemns the registration of the said title and advises Neeraj Pandey and his production house Friday Filmworks to withdraw the same with immediate effect in the larger interest of social harmony and unity,” the statement said.
FWICE also warned of possible further action if the issue is not addressed, stating that it may advise its affiliated associations and members to distance themselves from future projects associated with the producer.
Ghooskhor Pandat is directed by Ritesh Shah, who has co-written the story with Pandey. The film features Manoj Bajpayee as Ajay Dikshit, also known as Pandat, a corrupt police officer whose plans for a profitable night spiral out of control when he becomes entangled in a larger global conspiracy unfolding in Delhi.
Following the backlash, Neeraj Pandey acknowledged in a social media post that the film’s title had hurt a section of the audience and said that all promotional material related to the project would be taken down temporarily.
