'72 Hoorain': Another Indian film called out for propagating Islamophobia

Teaser for Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s 72 Hoorain is out and it sees radicalisation in full force, setting the tone for what is being dubbed a “dark comedy” by the filmmakers. The film also stars late Pakistani actor Rasheed Naz as Sadiq Saeed. Naz notably played a titular role in Khuda Ke Liye. 

72 Hoorain's producer Ashok Pandit, while sharing the teaser on Twitter, wrote, “As promised presenting to you the first look of our film 72 Hoorain. I am sure you will like it. What if you end up dying a brutal death instead of meeting 72 virgins, as assured by terrorist mentors? Presenting the first look of my upcoming film – slated to release on 7 July.”

Since its teaser dropped, the film that premiered at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in 2019, and won a special mention for the ICFT-UNESCO GANDHI MEDAL, has been getting flak for “besmirching an entire religion, Islamophobia and reinstating dangerous stereotypes” about Muslims.

Starring Pavan Malhotra and Aamir Bashir, 72 Hoorain focuses on the consequences of religious fanaticism. Chauhan, who has also edited the film, said the story is a "tragic reminder of the power of manipulation" and the "urgent need to address the root causes of terrorism,” as per Zoom TV. “The gradual poisoning of the mind by perpetrators transforms regular people into suicide bombers. Let us remember that even the bombers, who have families like ours, have succumbed to terrorist leaders' perverted ideologies and brainwashing,” the outlet quotes him as saying.

The teaser looks back at “religious fanatics” notorious for orchestrating various terror attacks. It mentions Osama Bin Laden, Ajmal Kasab, Yakub Memon, Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed and Sadiq Saeed. Interestingly, it mistakenly mentions that the attack on the World Trade Centre took place in 2011, while it happened in 2008. Many are mocking the standard of fact-checking in a film that dabbles with such a sensitive topic. Several others are condemning the Islamophobia on display.

 “They were in such a hurry to make this film that they mentioned the date wrong,” quipped a tweep. “Islamophobia = film industry” shared one more. “Hate and Islamophobia started in India is [a byproduct] of the [Indian] film industry,” they added. “One more propaganda movie... lakh bura chahe tho kya hoga wohi hoga jo manzure Khudha hoga...” tweeted one more. A user called it, "Hindu Raj rebooting..." Another sighed, "India has become the epicentre of Islamophobia. Shame on Ashok Pandit."

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