Movie Review: Thank You For Coming - 3.5/5

# Bollywood Title Tumble: 'Ghooskhor Pandat' Makers Bow to Backlash and Announce Name Change! **Imagine a film's title sparking nationwide protests, court battles, and effigy burnings—all before its release.** That's exactly what happened with Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming Netflix thriller *Ghooskhor Pandat*, forcing the makers to hit the rename button amid a firestorm of controversy.[1][2] ## The Spark That Ignited the Fury Directed by Neeraj Pandey and penned by Ritesh Shah, the crime drama—originally titled *Ghooskhor Pandat* (translating roughly to "corrupt pandit")—unveiled its first look and teaser at a Netflix event on February 3.[3][5] What followed was swift and fierce backlash. Netizens, Brahmin organizations, and political groups in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh accused the title of defaming the Brahmin community by linking the term "Pandat" (a colloquial variant of Pandit) with *ghooskhor* (bribe-taker or corrupt).[1][3][5] Protests escalated quickly: - Effigies of Manoj Bajpayee, director Neeraj Pandey, and Netflix were burned in multiple locations.[5][6] - Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath ordered an FIR against the director.[5][6] - The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) demanded a pre-release ban and screening for the community, noting the title wasn't even registered with them.[3][5]

*Manoj Bajpayee in a dramatic spotlight – a nod to the thriller's tense narrative.* (Unsplash free stock image)

## Courtroom Drama Seals the Deal The controversy peaked in the Delhi High Court, where petitioner Mahender Chaturvedi (an acharya) filed a plea alleging the title was "defamatory," "offensive," and harmful to Brahmin dignity.[1][2][4] Netflix's counsel, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, informed Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that producers had made a "conscious decision" to change the title to better reflect the film's reformative police drama narrative, calling the original an "unintended interruption."[1][4] Key actions taken: - All promotional content scrubbed from social media.[1][2] - Court disposed of the petition, noting "nothing more was required to be adjudicated."[1][2][4] Even FWICE isn't fully satisfied, pushing for a special community screening despite the rename.[3][5] ## Why This Matters for Bollywood and Beyond This saga highlights the tightrope filmmakers walk in today's hyper-sensitive social media era, where titles can ignite communal tensions faster than a blockbuster trailer.[3][5] Will the new name appease everyone, or is more scrutiny ahead? One thing's clear: Manoj Bajpayee's star power and Neeraj Pandey's gripping storytelling remain unscathed, ready to thrill on Netflix soon.[6] What do you think—smart move by the makers, or overreaction? **Drop your thoughts in the comments below, share this post if you're hooked on Bollywood drama, and subscribe for more updates on your favorite stars!**
Citations
1.https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ghooskhor-pandat-title-controversy-makers-to-change-title-of-manoj-bajpayee-starrer-after-massive-backlash/articleshow/128187100.cms
2.https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/ott/ghooskhor-pandat-row-netflix-agrees-to-changes-manoj-bajpayee-neeraj-pandey-s-film-title-2026-02-10-1029646
3.https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/story/neeraj-pandey-film-title-controversy-protests-legal-challenges-2866259-2026-02-10
4.https://www.barandbench.com/news/title-changed-promos-withdrawn-ghooskhor-pandat-producers-netflix-tell-delhi-high-court
5.https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/ghooskhor-pandat-title-change-not-enough-says-fwice-while-demanding-screening-of-manoj-bajpayee-s-film-neeraj-pandey-101770715149524.html
6.https://www.123telugu.com/mnews/netflixs-upcoming-original-crime-thriller-to-undergo-a-title-change-after-the-controversy-prp.html
7.
8.
9.


---
This email was sent automatically with n8n