Over the years, the Indian film industry has experienced its fair share of controversies, with many of the films being criticized for their themes or content. Some of these controversial films have prompted discussions, protests, and even legal action. However, it’s important to remember that controversies can also create awareness and draw attention to crucial social concerns, so it’s not necessarily all bad for the movies. This article will provide a rundown of some of the most controversial movies that came out in recent years.
- Kantara
Rishab Shetty’s popular action thriller Kantara became involved in a number of controversies after its debut, from the song Varaha Roopam’s ban to the depiction of “bhoota kola” in the film. But in spite of all the unfavorable publicity, the Kannada film did really well at the box office.
- The Kashmir Files
The Kashmir Files by director Vivek Agnihotri was constantly embroiled in various controversies. A new debate was started when Israeli director Nadav Lapid, who presided over the jury at IFFI, referred to the movie as “vulgar” during the awards ceremony. However, the film earned several crores at the box office and became one of the most popular Hindi movies of 2022.
- Laal Singh Chaddha
Laal Singh Chaddha, starring Amir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, ended up being the biggest disaster of the year when Khan’s previous remarks against intolerance reappeared online prior to the movie’s premiere. Laal Singh Chaddha, an official Hindi interpretation of the Forrest Gump movie starring Tom Hanks, eventually became a target of the boycott movement after getting caught up in a few scandals.
- Liger
Vijay Deverakonda, a South Indian star who made his Bollywood debut earlier this year with the film Liger, paid a price for expressing his honest view about the boycott trend in Bollywood. While Deverakonda’s opinions on the boycott trend infuriated the public, the action drama ultimately fared poorly at the box office.
- Tandav
The Ali Abbas Zafar-directed series sparked debate because of claims that it offended religious sensibilities and portrayed Hindu deities negatively. The show’s creators were charged with encouraging “love jihad” – a term used by right-wing organizations to suggest that Muslim men are marrying Hindu women to convert them to Islam.
- The White Tiger
The White Tiger, a film by Ramin Bahrani, drew fire for supposedly feeding prejudices about India and its inhabitants. The movie was charged with depicting India as a violent, corrupt, and impoverished nation.
- Bhuj: The Pride of India
Abhishek Dudhaiya’s film received flak for supposedly glorifying war and portraying Pakistan negatively. Several controversies also surrounded the movie’s depiction of a fictional character based on a real-life spy.
- Laxmii
The horror-comedy directed by Raghava Lawrence received criticism from a number of religious organizations for allegedly hurting religious emotions. Laxmi, a Hindu goddess, was allegedly disrespected in the film’s title, which was altered from Laxmi Bomb to Laxmii.
- The Accidental Prime Minister
The Accidental Prime Minister is directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte. The film drew criticism for allegedly altering facts and portraying former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh negatively. The movie was also charged with having political overtones and attempting to sway viewers ahead of the general elections.
