Key facts
- A teaser for the Bollywood film 'Chauhaan' has been criticized for downplaying the harm caused by pellet guns.
- Survivors of pellet gun injuries in Kashmir describe ongoing physical pain and psychological trauma.
- Pellet guns, officially termed 'non-lethal crowd control devices,' have caused mass blindings and severe injuries in Kashmir.
- The film's production is linked to entities associated with India's ruling party, fueling accusations of political propaganda.
- Critics argue that Bollywood films often misrepresent the conflict in Kashmir and the suffering of its people.
A promotional video for the upcoming Bollywood film 'Chauhaan' has ignited controversy for its portrayal of pellet guns, a weapon used by Indian forces in Kashmir. The teaser, which describes the pellet-firing shotgun as inflicting 'limited damage' on protesters, has been met with widespread criticism from survivors, activists, and observers who argue it trivializes the severe and permanent harm caused by the weapon.
Inam Ahmad, a 25-year-old from Srinagar, recounted his experience of losing 80 percent of his eyesight at age 16 when pellets fired by Indian armed forces lodged in his skull. He described living with daily pain and the psychological toll of his injuries. His mother, Fahmeeda Jan, spoke of the crushing financial costs, lost education, and the emotional distress her son endures.
The pellet shotgun, originally designed for hunting birds, fires hundreds of metal pellets that spread randomly, making precise targeting impossible. Despite being banned for hunting in many countries, it has been widely used against protesters in Kashmir since 2010. Medical and rights groups, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Amnesty International, have contested its classification as a 'non-lethal crowd control device,' labeling it dangerous, inaccurate, and indiscriminate.
Official figures from 2018 indicated that over 6,000 people were wounded by pellets between July 2016 and March 2017. The film 'Chauhaan,' starring Ajay Devgn and directed by Neeraj Yadav, is produced by Colour Yellow Productions and Jio Studios, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, which critics say is closely aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and its narrative on Kashmir.
Critics argue that 'Chauhaan' follows a pattern of Bollywood films, such as 'Uri: The Surgical Strike,' 'Shikara,' 'The Kashmir Files,' and 'Article 370,' that allegedly whitewash civilian suffering, misrepresent history, and advance a pro-Hindutva agenda. Authors like Mirza Waheed and Dr. Niharika Pandit have voiced concerns that such films contribute to a 'post-truth' environment, dehumanizing victims and glorifying perpetrators, rather than exploring the lived trauma of those affected by the violence.