Controversy has engulfed the Bollywood film ‘Bawaal,’ starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, as it faces severe criticism for its trivialization of the Holocaust.
When Bollywood filmmakers are not too busy making cringey surma-clad anti-Muslim propaganda films, they reveal their bizarre infatuation for Adolf Hitler. In a tone-deaf attempt at a romantic drama, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari draws parallels between a couple’s strained relationship and the Holocaust.
The film has come under fire from both the Jewish community and people worldwide for its insensitive portrayal of historical atrocities. Though coming from the same industry that made ‘Hitler Didi’, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish organization, has penned a letter to Amazon Prime, urging the streaming platform to remove Bawaal due to its “insensitive portrayal” of the Holocaust. The organization argues that the film’s use of Holocaust imagery diminishes the gravity of the “suffering and systematic murder of millions.”
While the film’s commercial success is evident with millions of views, it has also ignited widespread condemnation since its release.
Critics and viewers alike have criticized specific scenes and dialogues that utilize the Holocaust, including a fantasy scene set inside a gas chamber and the incorporation of Adolf Hitler and the Auschwitz death camp as metaphors.
Bawaal centers around a newlywed couple, portrayed by Dhawan and Kapoor, as they travel across Europe. Their journey is intertwined with themes of history, love, and the challenges of marriage. However, the film’s incorporation of Holocaust elements has sparked outrage.
In one scene, Hitler is metaphorically referenced to describe human greed, while another dialogue compares every relationship’s difficulties to Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi death camp.
The use of Holocaust imagery, including a portrayal of the gas chamber, has led to accusations of insensitivity and trivialization of historical horrors.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center emphasized that Auschwitz should never be used as a metaphor, as it symbolizes the epitome of human cruelty. The organization called for Amazon Prime to stop monetizing the film and swiftly remove it from its platform.
Despite the backlash, the film’s creators have not yet responded to the criticism. In a previous interview, Varun Dhawan expressed his observation that audiences tend to be more critical of minor details in Hindi films compared to English films.
Visit the Lens celebrity portal to find out more about your favorite stars.
