A Bollywood film titled “Bawaal” has come under fire for its alleged trivialization of the Holocaust and its inappropriate use of Nazi death camps as a metaphor for relationship conflicts. The movie, directed by Nitesh Tiwari and featuring renowned actors Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, has faced severe criticism both within India and internationally. The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), a prominent Jewish rights group, has called for Amazon Prime to remove the film from its streaming platform, citing its “outlandish abuse” of one of history’s most horrifying events.
SWC Urges Amazon Prime to Remove “Bawaal”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center issued a call to action, urging Amazon Prime to take down “Bawaal” due to its controversial portrayal of the Holocaust. The film follows a history professor and his wife as they travel to World War II sites in Europe, with scenes from the past and present intertwined. Critics have accused the movie of insensitively using the genocide of around 6 million Jewish people, along with millions of others, as a backdrop to depict the couple’s personal struggles.
Outrage Over Dialogues and Scenes
The trailer of “Bawaal” has sparked widespread outrage for its flippant and offensive dialogues. In one scene, Kapoor’s character compares people’s dissatisfaction with their lives to Hitler, saying, “We’re all a little bit like Hitler, aren’t we?” Another disturbing dialogue references the Auschwitz concentration camp, stating, “Every relationship goes through their Auschwitz.” Auschwitz was one of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps where countless innocent lives were brutally extinguished.
Critics Slam the Film in India
“Bawaal” has faced harsh criticism from both movie critics and the public in India. The Hindustan Times, a leading English-language newspaper, branded the film as “the most insensitive film of the year so far.” Shantanu Das, a film critic, described the scenes depicting the gas chamber as “excruciatingly horrible and shameful depictions” of the Holocaust.
Filmmakers Respond to Controversy
Nitesh Tiwari, Janhvi Kapoor, and Varun Dhawan have addressed the growing controversy surrounding the film. In an interview, Tiwari defended “Bawaal,” claiming that it was made with love, care, and good intentions. He expressed disappointment with the misunderstanding of the film’s intentions and emphasized that he never intended to be insensitive.
Kapoor revealed that an Israeli professor she knows, who lost family members during the Holocaust, praised the film and was not offended by the contentious scenes. She maintained that the film’s intention has always been pure. Dhawan respected everyone’s opinion but raised concerns about differing standards for Hindi and Western films, stating that critics are often more lenient towards English movies.
A Quick Review
The controversy surrounding “Bawaal” highlights the importance of sensitive and responsible storytelling, especially when dealing with historical tragedies as significant as the Holocaust. As discussions continue, the film’s fate remains uncertain, with the SWC calling for its removal from streaming platforms. The incident serves as a reminder of the responsibility filmmakers hold in portraying historical events with utmost care and respect.
