New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday raised strong objections to the title of filmmaker Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, observing that no section of society should be denigrated through a film’s name or content.
A Bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a petition seeking a stay on the release of the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer, which is scheduled to stream on Netflix. During the hearing, the court expressed concern over the use of the word “Pandat” in conjunction with “Ghooskhor”, stating that such terminology could target a particular community.
“You cannot denigrate a section of society by using such a title. This is against morality and public order. We will not permit the release of the film unless you inform us about the revised title,” the Bench remarked.
The court issued notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, seeking their response to the plea. It also directed Pandey to file an affidavit affirming that the film does not insult or demean any community.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 19.
The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed by Atul Mishra, National Organisation Secretary of the Brahman Samaj of India. The petitioner argued that the film’s title and storyline allegedly promote caste-based and religion-based stereotypes, potentially affecting communal harmony and public order.
According to the plea, the combination of the word “Pandat” described as a caste- and religion-linked title — with “Ghooskhor”, which implies bribery and corruption, creates a prima facie defamatory portrayal of the Brahmin community.
The film, produced by Neeraj Pandey, was recently announced by Netflix at an event in Mumbai. Apart from Manoj Bajpayee, the cast includes Nushrat Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Divya Dutta.
The court’s observations have sparked renewed debate on creative freedom, societal sensitivities, and the balance between artistic expression and constitutional values. The final decision on the film’s release will depend on further proceedings before the apex court.
