In an interesting turn of events, the newly released film ‘Bawaal’, featuring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has sparked a heated controversy on Amazon Prime Video. The movie’s plot, which includes a scene related to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, has drawn sharp criticism from audiences and a prominent Jewish human rights organization, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
In a fervent open letter addressed to Amazon Prime Video, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, the Associate Dean of Simon Wiesenthal Centre and Director of Global Social Action, demanded the immediate removal of ‘Bawaal’ from the streaming platform. The organization, dedicated to preserving the memories of Holocaust victims, accused the film of trivializing the suffering and systematic murder of millions who fell victim to Hitler’s genocidal regime.
The contentious scene in the movie involves the lead characters portrayed by Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor visiting the haunting site of Auschwitz during World War II. The sequence takes a surreal turn as it presents the characters struggling to breathe inside a gas chamber. To add fuel to the fire, Janhvi’s character, Nisha, makes a controversial statement, likening everyone to Hitler in the context of human greed.
As the dispute rages on, Varun Dhawan, in defense of the film, highlighted the stark contrast between Hollywood and Bollywood, stating that English films have more creative freedom, while Hindi films must adhere to different standards.
Bawaal Director express disappointment
Meanwhile, Bawaal Director Nitesh Tiwari expressed disappointment with the audience’s interpretations of the movie, emphasizing that the contentious scenes were never meant to trivialize historical atrocities.
‘Bawaal’ hit screens on July 23 and is currently available on Amazon Prime Video in multiple languages. However, with the backlash intensifying and the Jewish human rights group’s demands echoing across media platforms, the fate of the film’s streaming future remains uncertain.
The movie’s presence on the streaming platform has raised significant questions about artistic expression, historical sensitivity, and the responsibilities of filmmakers when dealing with sensitive subjects. As the controversy rages on, it remains to be seen whether ‘Bawaal‘ will continue to stir debates or bow down to mounting pressure for its removal from Amazon Prime Video.