Netaji’s Grandnephew Tags PM Modi, Seeks Action Against Prabhas’ Fauzi
Chandra Kumar Bose objects to the film’s portrayal of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and demands an apology, removal of the teaser and action against those responsible.
Prabhas’ upcoming film Fauzi, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, has landed in controversy following the release of a special glimpse on the actor’s birthday. What was expected to build excitement around the film has instead sparked a debate over the portrayal of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
The glimpse features a conversation between Netaji and Adolf Hitler, with Bose appearing to praise Prabhas’ character. The scene has not gone down well with many, including Netaji’s grandnephew, Chandra Kumar Bose, who has demanded an apology from the filmmakers.
“Distorting facts and resorting to fiction while dealing with national icons is, I think, a crime,” he said, objecting to the way the historical figure has been portrayed.
Chandra Kumar Bose acknowledged that Netaji had sought help from Germany’s Hitler and Japan’s Hideki Tojo in the fight for India’s independence. However, he stressed that Netaji was firmly opposed to fascism and stood for democracy and people’s rights.
“The director should apologise to the people of India and all those who value the country’s freedom struggle,” he said.
With the makers yet to respond to the criticism, Chandra Kumar Bose has now taken the matter to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking strict action. He also tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his social media post, urging the government to intervene.
“We take strong offence to this trivialisation of Netaji. We also fail to understand how the Censor Board could clear such objectionable content. You are requested to kindly look into this very serious concern and get it investigated,” he wrote.
He also called for the teaser to be taken down and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible at the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
The controversy has put Fauzi under scrutiny even before its release, raising questions about how filmmakers portray historical personalities and how far creative freedom can go when dealing with figures who played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle.
