New Delhi: Chandra Kumar Bose, the grandnephew of Subhas Chandra Bose, has demanded an apology from the makers of the upcoming film Fauzi.
Alleging that the film distorts history by depicting his great-uncle discussing a fictional Indian spy with Adolf Hitler, he has asked the director to apologise to the people of India.
Set during India’s freedom struggle, Fauzi stars Prabhas as a fictional soldier and spy, fighting British rule under Subhas Chandra Bose.
The teaser, released on Friday to mark Prabhas’s birthday, opens with Bose meeting Hitler in Berlin during the Second World War. Bose talks about Prabhas’ character, discussing him as an Indian soldier who could play an important role in defeating British intelligence systems.
He also describes a secret code the soldier has developed using the Bhagavad Gita, claiming that it is even more difficult to crack than the Nazi Enigma code.
While Bose did meet Hitler in Berlin on 29 May 1942, the conversation about Prabhas’s character is fictional.
Speaking to IANS on Sunday, Chandra Kumar Bose objected to the film’s portrayal of the historical figure.
“Distorting facts and resorting to fiction while dealing with national icons is, I think, a crime,” he said.
He said filmmakers were free to make films about India’s independence movement but should not alter historical facts.
‘He vehemently opposed fascism’
Chandra Kumar Bose said his great-uncle had met Hitler to seek Germany’s support in India’s struggle against British rule.
He argued that Subhas Chandra Bose believed Germany and Japan could help India achieve independence, despite his opposition to their political ideologies.
“He vehemently opposed fascism and believed in democracy and people’s democratic rights,” he said.
He also maintained that Subhas Chandra Bose dealt with Hitler as an equal rather than as someone taking orders from him.
According to Chandra Kumar Bose, director Hanu Raghavapudi had altered the portrayal of their meeting to make it more dramatic.
“The director should apologise to the people of India and all those who value the country’s freedom struggle,” he said.
Also Read: Prabhas announces new film on birthday
Teaser draws criticism over portrayal of Bose
The teaser had already drawn criticism on social media before Chandra Kumar Bose spoke out.
Several viewers questioned the decision to use Subhas Chandra Bose’s meeting with Hitler to introduce and praise a fictional character played by Prabhas.
“What is point of including our National hero Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s AI generated video showing him meeting Nazis for this third grade movie promotion,” a user commented.
Written and directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, Fauzi is produced by Mythri Movie Makers. It is scheduled to release in theatres on 19 March 2027.
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)