Just hours into its nationwide release on February 6, the film ‘Godaan’—a tribute to cow protection—has ignited a firestorm. Religious figures in Aligarh are up in arms, demanding a ban over claims that it vilifies Muslims through biased storytelling.
The movie portrays the grim reality of cow smuggling with emotional depth, but certain sequences have sparked outrage. A pivotal scene showing a gun aimed at a man wearing a prayer cap, coupled with provocative lines, has been flagged as discriminatory. Maulana Chaudhary Iffrahim Hussain has taken a firm stand, appealing directly to the censor board.
Speaking candidly, the Maulana expressed deep dismay. ‘The buzz around ‘Godaan’ accusing it of anti-Muslim hate, including gunpoint threats on cap-wearing individuals and offensive comments, is unacceptable,’ he said. Backing Maulana Ishak’s concerns, he accused producers of exploiting sensitive issues for gain. ‘Filmmakers chase commercial success even if it sows division or humiliates specific groups—they couldn’t care less.’
Hussain advocated for accountability. ‘Halt such venomous content creators. These pictures wound faiths and degrade communities. CBFC must block them, and viewers should shun divisive cinema,’ he urged.
Echoing these sentiments, UP Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi branded the film as a tool to breed enmity between groups. ‘It spreads bias and hatred—impose a ban now,’ he demanded. Poonam Pandit highlighted the unfair depiction of Indira Gandhi, India’s Iron Lady, as culpable in cow mistreatment, terming it slanderous.
With protests mounting, ‘Godaan’s’ box-office run hangs in balance. This controversy underscores the tightrope filmmakers walk between artistic freedom and social responsibility in India’s diverse landscape.