Supreme Court closes petition as Neeraj Pandey withdraws ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ title

Producer Neeraj Pandey on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the title of his upcoming film 'Ghooskhor Pandat', starring Manoj Bajpayee, has been completely withdrawn and will not be used in any manner going forward, following which the court put an end to the case challenging the film’s title.

In an affidavit filed before the top court, Pandey also submitted that all trailers, posters and promotional material released under the earlier title had already been taken down.

The affidavit comes in compliance with the Supreme Court’s earlier direction asking the filmmakers to change the title, which the bench had observed appeared denigrative of a particular community. The court had further directed the producers to ensure that no content in the film was offensive or derogatory towards any community.

In his sworn statement, Pandey clarified that the previous title now stands unequivocally withdrawn and would not be revived under any circumstances. He further assured the court that while the new title of the film has not yet been finalised, it would not resemble or evoke the earlier one in any manner.

“I respectfully submit that the earlier title, ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’, stands unequivocally withdrawn and shall not be used in any manner whatsoever. 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 and intent of the film without giving rise to unintended interpretations,” the affidavit states.

Pandey, through his counsel and senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, also told the court that corrective steps had already been taken even before the matter came up for hearing. “I also state that all promotional material, posters, trailers and publicity content under the earlier title have already been withdrawn, prior to the listing of the present petition,” the affidavit adds.

After accepting the positive response from filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, who undertook to withdraw the title of the film 'Ghooskhor Pandat', the Supreme Court disposed of the issue, stating that it expects the matter to now be put to a quietus.

Noting the submissions made by the parties appearing before it, a bench of Justices B. V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also urged YouTubers to put a quietus to the controversy.

“They have now responded positively,” the bench observed.

The controversy over the film’s title arose after petitions were filed alleging that the term used in the title carried a pejorative connotation and targeted a specific community. Petitioners argued that the title was likely to offend sentiments and could potentially contribute to stereotyping or social disharmony.

During the earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had expressed concern over the potential impact of such titles in a diverse and plural society. While noting that filmmakers enjoy artistic freedom, the bench underscored that such freedom must be exercised with responsibility, especially where public sensitivities are involved. The court therefore directed the producers to reconsider the title and remove any material deemed offensive.

During the hearing, an exchange between the bench and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta touched upon the role of social media in shaping public discourse.

Appearing for the Centre, Mehta remarked that social media remains irresponsible and uncontrollable, adding that although it had no direct bearing on the case at hand, the present generation increasingly relies on it for information. He observed that young people rarely turn to traditional newspapers and instead derive much of their knowledge from online platforms.

Justice Ujjal Bhuyan responded, noting that “sometimes, irresponsibility is also good,” prompting a lighter moment in the courtroom.

Justice B.V. Nagarathna then invoked a Sanskrit maxim, observing, “Let noble thoughts come to us from all sides,” underscoring the importance of openness to diverse sources of knowledge while maintaining discernment.

The remarks came during broader arguments in the matter, though the court clarified that the observations on media consumption were not central to the dispute being heard.

The film, which features Manoj Bajpayee in the lead, is understood to be a socio-political drama. However, with the withdrawal of the earlier title and promotional campaign, the release schedule may undergo changes depending on when the new title is finalised and fresh publicity material is prepared.