The teaser Telugu movie ‘Razakar’, which was released on Telangana Liberation Day on September 17, has sparked a political controversy in poll-bound Telangana. Ruling party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have engaged in a war of words over it, with the former alleging the latter of trying to flare up communal tension in the state ahead of the Assembly elections.
The one-minute and 43 seconds long teaser of the movie depicts graphic details about the brutalities committed by the Razakars on the Hindus residing in Hyderabad state during the time of Nizam’s rule. Apart from the visuals, the teaser also contains dialogues that speak about the forced conversion of Hindus.
The erstwhile Hyderabad state under the Nizam rule comprised of now Telangana and parts of present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka. Hyderabad became a part of the Indian Union on September 17, 1948, after Nizam conceded his defeat. This operation was undertaken by the Indian military against the Nizam’s Army, which was code-named as “Operation Polo”.
On the other hand, the Razakars were a volunteer paramilitary force of the nationalist party under Nizam’s Rule in the Hyderabad state. It was formed by Bahadur Yar Jung, who was the leader of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul in 1938. Later the Razakars expanded their control during the leadership of Qasim Razvi at the time of India’s independence.
BJP leader Gudur Narayana Reddy, who is the producer of the film, calls it an attempt to show the untold story of the brutalities committed by the Razakars on Hindus during the time of Nizam rule, as per Deccan Herald.
Following its release, Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar praised the film's attempt and tweeted, “Literally got Goosebumps watching the trailer of the movie Razakar. Current generations should know about struggles of Hyderabad Liberation. Let’s engage with history even as their pseudo intellectuals try to erase it.”
Literally Goosebumps watching the trailer of the movie Razakar…
Current generations should know about the struggles of Hyderabad Liberation.Let’s engage with history even as there pseudo intellectuals try to erase it. pic.twitter.com/gWsWYK7Y89— Bandi Sanjay Kumar (@bandisanjay_bjp) September 17, 2023
On the other hand, the BRS working president and state IT and industries minister, KT Rama Rao said, “Some intellectually bankrupt jokers of the BJP are doing their best to instigate communal violence and polarisation for their political propaganda in Telangana. We will take up the matter with the censor board and also the Telangana Police to ensure that the law and order situation of Telangana is not affected.”
Some intellectually bankrupt jokers of the BJP are doing their best to instigate communal violence and polarisation for their political propaganda in Telangana
We will take up the matter with censor board and also the Telangana police to ensure that the law & order situation of… https://t.co/a7DETpVGKP— KTR (@KTRBRS) September 18, 2023
On Thursday, the BRS MLC from Nizamabad, K Kavitha called upon the people of Telangana to strictly reject the film and said that the state has been known for not having any communal disturbances and living with harmony and peace since its formation in 2014. She also hit out at the BJP by saying that they have started this new trend of making movies on issues which will be igniting differences among the communities, reported news agency ANI.
It is not the first time that a movie has ignited political controversy. Previously movies like ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Kerala Story’ were also met with strong reactions from across the nation.
‘Razakar- Silent Genocide of Hyderabad’ has been directed by Yata Satyanarayana and is going to be released in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam languages. However, the release date of the film is yet to be announced.
(Edited by : Akashdeep Baruah)
First Published: Sept 22, 2023 12:11 PM IST
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