New Delhi, 30 Dec
Indian government sources on Tuesday said cinema is an artistic expression that is not restricted in the country, after Salman Khan’s upcoming film Battle of Galwan attracted criticism from Chinese media following the release of its teaser.
The big-budget war drama, based on the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, has drawn flak from China’s state-run tabloid Global Times, which termed the film a cinematic exaggeration and accused it of distorting facts.
Directed by Apoorva Lakhia, the film features Salman Khan as Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who was among the 20 Indian soldiers killed in action during the June 15, 2020 clash while defending Indian territory. He was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
The 1.12-minute teaser, released on Salman Khan’s 60th birthday, shows Indian soldiers charging at PLA troops with the patriotic song “Mera Bharat Desh Mahaan Hai” in the background. The teaser has garnered over 60 million views across social media platforms.
Reacting to the controversy, a government source said India has a long tradition of cinematic freedom and cited past films such as Haqeeqat, based on the 1962 India-China war, and 120 Bahadur, inspired by the battle of Rezang La. “Cinema is an artistic expression and India does not restrict it,” the source said.
The Global Times quoted unnamed Chinese experts and social media users alleging inaccuracies in the teaser, including issues with costumes, hairstyles and portrayal of weather conditions, and claimed the film did not align with what it called “historical facts”.
Battle of Galwan, produced by Salman Khan and his mother Salma Khan, is scheduled for release on April 17.
The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020, with the Galwan Valley clash marking the most serious deterioration in India-China relations in decades. While India acknowledged the loss of 20 soldiers, China officially admitted in February 2021 that five of its military personnel were killed, though higher casualties on the Chinese side have been widely speculated.
