Gujarat High Court Closes Plea Against 'Dhurandhar' Movie After Producers Inform That 'Derogatory' Word Against Baloch Community Is Muted

The Gujarat High Court closed a plea seeking direction to remove allegedly objectionable dialogues against Baloch community in 'Dhurandhar' movie, after the film's producers informed the court that the dialogue had already been muted thereby leaving no surviving grievances or dispute.The court was hearing a petition was moved by two men belonging to the Baloch community, including the Vice President of the Uttar Gujarat Baloch Samaj Trust, Patan seeking removal of certain dialogue which were stated to be objectionable and derogatory with respect to the Baloch community. During the hearing on January 9, Justice Aniruddha P. Mayee in his order observed: “Mr. Salil Thakore, learned advocate for the respondent Nos.4 to 6 makes a statement that the word which is objected to by the petitioners herein has already been muted. Therefore, no grievance survives in the present writ petition now. Ms. Megha Jani, learned advocate for the petitioners does not dispute the same. In view thereof, the present writ petition is rendered infructuous. Disposed of accordingly.”The movie directed and produced by Aditya Dhar, Jio Studio and B62 Studios Pvt. Ltd was released on December 5, last year. The plea claimed that the dialogue explicitly referred to Baloch community in the movie was 'derogatory, inflammatory, stigmatizing, hateful, factually incorrect and attributes dishonesty and untrust worthiness' to the Baloch community, resulting in collective vilification of the community. The plea stated that the dialogue dehumanizes the Baloch community by comparing them to an animal and attributing negative moral traits by targeting the whole community and not a fictional individual or character which is 'humiliating, dehumanizing, and constitutionally impermissible' thereby attacking the 'dignity, identity, and social standing' of the Baloch people.It was further argued in the plea that Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 prohibits certification of films whose exhibition may be against the public order and the right to life under Article 21 includes right to dignity, and labelling an entire community as untrustworthy is unconstitutional and violates human dignity. It was contended that the dialogue attracts offences under Section 196, (promoting enmity between groups), Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage community feelings) of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Lastly, the plea contended the dialogue unfairly targets Baloch community through hostile stereotyping, violating equality before law and is not protected under free speech as it demeans and stigmatizes the community amounting to hate speech. Among various reliefs, the plea sought that a direction to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and CBFC to take legal action against film's director for inclusion of "hate speech" against the community. It sought suspension/modification of the film's certificate until the dialogue is deleted or muted. It further sought a direction to CBFC to conduct fresh review of the film and also to restrain further exhibition, streaming of the dialogue on any medium. Case Title: Yasinbhai Allarakha Baloch & Anr. vs Union of India & Ors.Case Number: R/Special Civil Application No. 17681 of 2025Click Here To Read/Download Order

Gujarat High Court Closes Plea Against 'Dhurandhar' Movie After Producers Inform That 'Derogatory' Word Against Baloch Community Is Muted

Lovina B Thakkar

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