Bawaal Film Controversy Glorifying Auschwitz Tragedy in Bollywood?
A Jewish organization has sent a letter to Amazon Prime, requesting the removal of the Bollywood film “Bawaal” from its platform due to its “insensitive portrayal” of the Holocaust. The Simon Wiesenthal Center has accused the film of trivializing the “suffering and systematic murder of millions” during the Holocaust. The film has faced criticism from viewers and critics in India for its use of Holocaust imagery in a romantic drama.
The film, starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has already gained commercial success with millions of views, but it has also received negative reviews for its portrayal of the Holocaust. In the film, certain scenes and dialogues draw parallels between the protagonists’ love story and the Holocaust. For example, the film includes a fantasy scene set inside a gas chamber, and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and the Auschwitz death camp are used as metaphors.
Critics have pointed out that such use of the Holocaust imagery and dialogue is in bad taste. One scene compares human greed to Hitler, while another references “every relationship goes through their Auschwitz,” referring to the Nazi death camp where millions of Jews were killed.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center condemned the film’s use of Auschwitz as a metaphor, stating that it trivializes and demeans the memory of those who suffered during the Holocaust. The organization called on Amazon Prime to stop monetizing the film and remove it from the platform immediately.
While the filmmakers have not yet responded to the organization’s statement, Varun Dhawan and director Nitesh Tiwari had previously commented on the criticism. Dhawan stated that people tend to be more sensitive to certain aspects in Hindi films compared to English films, and Tiwari suggested that films should not be scrutinized too closely, as there will always be something to find fault with in any piece of work created.
