Cinema VinesIn a recent appearance at The Wire’s State of Media and Film Industry event, filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia opened up about a historic clash between the Indian Censor Board and the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, over Dilip Kumar’s 1961 classic Ganga Jamuna. Dhulia recalled that the board had objected to a single line in the film – a dying character’s utterance of “Hey Ram” – arguing that the actor’s Muslim background made the dialogue inappropriate. The board’s stance was that the character, named Ganga, was Hindu and therefore could not be expected to say “Hey Ram.”
According to Dhulia, the controversy escalated when the matter was escalated to Nehru himself. The former prime minister reportedly watched the film and found no fault with the contested line. To avoid the perception that Dilip Kumar had received special treatment, Dhulia said Nehru ordered the clearance of all other films that had been held up by the censor board. This move, he noted, ensured a level playing field for the industry.
Dhulia also took the opportunity to critique Ranveer Singh’s recent Dhurandhar series, labeling the two‑part saga as lacking a coherent story. He described the plot as a simple “guy goes to Pakistan and causes havoc,” calling it an unconvincing narrative that fails to engage viewers. He further argued that filmmakers who wish to tell compelling stories are being stifled by a system that prefers formulaic releases.
Beyond the censorship debate, Dhulia announced his upcoming project Ghamasan, a comedy‑drama starring Arshad Warsi and Pratik Gandhi. The film is slated for a digital premiere on ZEE5 on September 11. The director’s remarks highlight both the historical challenges faced by Indian cinema and his current creative ambitions.
