Antisemitic: Varun, Janhvi’s ‘Bawaal’ gets backlash for using the Holocaust as a romance trope

After getting called out for propagating Islamophobia with its films, Bollywood is receiving backlash for reducing the 1945 holocaust to a trope.

Bawaal, starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has stirred controversy and drawn criticism for its insensitive use of Holocaust references as a plot device. The Nitesh Tiwari directorial, released on July 21 on Amazon Prime Video, has received mixed reviews from critics, with many condemning its approach to sensitive historical events.

Bawaal revolves around the marital issues of the leading couple, Ajju and Nisha, who visit historic sites of the Second World War across Europe. However, the film's problematic portrayal emerges when their relationship issues are compared to the Holocaust. In one scene, Janhvi’s character says, "Every relationship goes through its Auschwitz," equating the horrors of the concentration camp with the challenges faced by the couple.

Users, who watched the film, took to Twitter to lash out at how “deeply insensitive and disrespectful” it is to trivialise such a tragic historical event for the sake of a present-day relationship storyline. Actor Lisa Ray expressed her disbelief and shock on the microblogging site. Reacting to the Auschwitz line, she wrote, “Noooooooo.”

“An Auschwitz survivor's story about his separation from his wife at the concentration camp makes Varun Dhawan realise what separation from your partner actually means. Bawaal is tone-deaf on so many levels,” wrote a user.

The film obtained special permission to shoot at the Auschwitz concentration camp, leading to scenes in which the protagonists enter a gas chamber and are suffocated by pesticides while wearing striped clothing. Moreover, Hitler is used as a metaphor for human greed, with Ajju comparing their behaviour to the notorious dictator.

“‘We’re all a little like Hitler, aren’t we?’” Varun’s character asks. A user, sharing a screengrab of the scene, wrote, “Comparison with Hitler without knowing about Hitler. I think the Bawaal makers think they are giving a brilliant message, but they forgot that Hitler is the murderer of millions of people.”

At the trailer launch event in Dubai, director Nitesh attempted to justify the controversial references. He stated that while creating characters, historical events and incidents were carefully chosen to impact the overall arc of the characters' relationships. However, critics failed to find logic in his argument and argued that the Holocaust should not be exploited as a mere narrative scapegoat.

The Hindustan Times' review of the film criticised it as "the most insensitive film of the year," pointing out that the Holocaust references are "excruciatingly horrible and shameful." The historical subtext quickly dissipates once the couple finds each other, raising concerns about the casual and insensitive handling of such sensitive subject matter.

The film's release has also led to broader discussions about cultural references in mainstream cinema and the need for greater sensitivity and respect when depicting historical tragedies like the Holocaust.

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