In an important development for one of the most talked-about upcoming digital releases, filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has officially withdrawn the title of his Manoj Bajpayee-starrer, Ghooskhor Pandat. The decision was confirmed today, leading the Supreme Court to dispose of a plea that had been filed against the film’s original name.
The legal proceedings reached a conclusion after Neeraj Pandey submitted an affidavit to the court, confirming that the controversial title and all associated publicity material had been retracted. The filmmaker gave a formal undertaking to the bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, stating that the project would move forward under a different title.
As per the affidavit submitted, Neeraj Pandey stated, “I respectfully submit that the earlier title, Ghooskhor Pandat, stands unequivocally withdrawn and shall not be used in any manner whatsoever. Although the new title has not yet been finalised, I undertake that any title that may later be identified and adopted shall not be similar to, or evocative of, the earlier title.”
The controversy began when a petition was filed seeking a stay on the film’s release on Netflix, raising objections over the title. During a previous hearing on February 12, the Supreme Court had observed that creative freedom must be balanced with social responsibility, noting that freedom of expression cannot be used to justify content that denigrates specific sections of society.
Addressing these concerns, Neeraj further clarified in his statement that the future title would align more closely with the film’s plot. He mentioned, “While the new title has not yet been finalised, I undertake that any title that may hereafter be identified and adopted shall not be similar to, or evocative of, the earlier title in respect of which objections were raised, and shall accurately reflect the narrative.”
The film itself is a fictional crime drama starring Manoj Bajpayee as a morally ambiguous police officer involved in a web of corruption and conspiracy. Directed by Neeraj Pandey, the Netflix original also features an ensemble cast including Nushrat Bharuccha, Saqib Saleem, Akshay Oberoi, and Divya Dutta.
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