A legal storm has hit the makers of the recently released Bollywood film 'Dhurandhar'. A lawyer practising at the Gujarat High Court has issued a formal legal notice to filmmaker Aditya Dhar and veteran actor Sanjay Dutt, accusing them of defaming and disparaging the Baloch community through dialogues in the movie.
What Does the Legal Notice Allege?
The notice, sent by Advocate Nabil Baloch, takes strong exception to specific lines in the film which, he claims, use vulgar, offensive, and derogatory language against the Baloch people. The core of the complaint revolves around a dialogue delivered by Sanjay Dutt's character, SP Chaudhary Aslam, a Pakistani police officer. The contentious line states: "You can trust crocodiles, but not the Baloch."
Advocate Baloch cited this and a couple of other dialogues from the film, arguing that they collectively portray the entire Baloch community in a demeaning and contemptuous light. The notice asserts that such portrayals are not just insulting but have wider harmful implications.
Demands for Apology and Censorship
The legal document outlines clear demands from the filmmakers. Primarily, it calls for a public apology to be issued for the alleged defamation. Furthermore, it urges the director and producers to "remove, delete or censor" all references deemed defamatory, vulgar, or derogatory towards the Baloch community.
This directive extends beyond the film itself to include all associated promotional material. The lawyer has demanded the editing of trailers, promotional clips, and any online content related to 'Dhurandhar' that contains the objected dialogues.
Threat of Legal Proceedings
Advocate Nabil Baloch has given the recipients of the notice a 15-day deadline to comply with the demands. The notice warns that failure to do so will result in the initiation of appropriate civil and criminal proceedings against them. The potential legal action underscores the seriousness with which the complainant views the matter.
The notice frames the issue as one that transcends mere cinematic expression. It states that the deliberate use of abusive language against a community constitutes hate speech, promotes social disharmony, and violates fundamental principles of equality, dignity, and respect guaranteed by law.
As of now, there has been no public response from Aditya Dhar, Sanjay Dutt, or the production team behind 'Dhurandhar' regarding this legal notice. The industry and audiences alike are now watching to see how the filmmakers will respond to these allegations within the stipulated timeframe.
