The controversy surrounding the Bollywood movie “Bawaal” has continued to escalate since the release of its teaser. The film has faced widespread criticism and backlash for its handling of the Nazi Holocaust, raising concerns about its insensitive portrayal of the World War II tragedy and drawing ire from social media users who have taken to trolling the film for its inappropriate comparisons of marriage with the horrors of Auschwitz.
One of the prominent voices in condemning the film’s treatment of the Holocaust is the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), an organization dedicated to honoring the memory of Holocaust victims. The SWC strongly criticized the movie for what they deemed as an “outlandish abuse” of the Nazi Holocaust, using it as a mere plot device rather than treating it with the respect and sensitivity it deserves. The SWC even went so far as to call on Amazon Prime to remove the film from its platform, reflecting the severity of their concerns.
The Israeli embassy is disturbed by the trivialization of the significance of the Holocaust in the recent movie 'Bawaal'.
There was a poor choice in the utilization of some terminology in the movie, and though we assume no malice was intended, we urge everyone who may not be…
— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) July 28, 2023
Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon, joined the chorus of criticism in a lengthy tweet expressing his deep disappointment with “Bawaal.” He raised concerns about the trivialization of the Holocaust’s significance in the film. Although Gilon admitted that he had not watched the movie, he felt compelled to urge everyone, especially those who may not be fully aware of the atrocities of the Holocaust, to educate themselves on this important historical event.
I did not and will not watch the film Bawaal but from what I’ve read, there was a poor choice of terminology and symbolism.
Trivialization of the Holocaust should disturb all.
I urge those who don’t know enough about the horrors of the #Holocaust to educate themselves about it.— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) July 28, 2023
In light of the controversy, Ambassador Gilon reiterated the Israeli embassy’s commitment to promoting educational materials on the Holocaust. He emphasized their willingness to engage in meaningful conversations to foster a better understanding of the profound lessons derived from this dark chapter in history.
“Bawaal” is a romantic drama set during the backdrop of World War II, featuring Varun as a history teacher who embarks on a journey with Janhvi Kapoor’s character to visit World War II sites in Europe. The film was shot in various locations across the globe, including Paris, Berlin, Poland, Amsterdam, Krakow, Warsaw, Lucknow, and two other Indian cities. Its release on the popular OTT platform, Amazon Prime Video, occurred on July 21.
It’s essential to recognize that in history, the Holocaust refers to the systematic genocide of Jews orchestrated by the Nazis during World War II.
This is not the first instance where Ambassador Gilon has raised objections to a film. Previously, he publicly criticized fellow Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for characterizing the film “The Kashmir Files” as “propaganda” and “vulgar” during the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). His stance on these films reflects his commitment to preserving historical accuracy and sensitivities.