A teaser for the upcoming Bollywood film Chauhaan,featuring actor Ajay Devgn, has sparked outrage among residents of Jammu and Kashmir and local political figures due to its portrayal of victims injured by pellet guns. The clip depicts a young man struck in the eyes during protests,with Devgn's voiceover referring to the injuries as “limited damage.”
Between 2010 and 2016,over 10,000 individuals in Kashmir suffered pellet injuries, with peak occurring in 2016 when 6,000 people were affected during four months of intense protests from July to October. Many of these victims lost vision in one or both eyes,highlighting the severe impact of such crowd control measures.
Imran Nabi Dar, a spokesperson for the ruling National Conference (NC),condemned the film's teaser as “a compilation of propaganda,” accusing it of inciting violence . He criticized the portrayal of those who have lost their eyesight, stating that it mocks their suffering and reopens old wounds for their families . “It has put Goebbelsian propaganda to shame,” he added, calling for the teaser’s removal and labeling Devgn a disgrace for celebrating violence.
Wajahat Farooq Bhat, the leader of the non-profit organization Save Youth Save Future,which supports victims of militancy, also voiced his discontent . He urged filmmakers to cease glorifying violence through the depiction of fictional heroes engaged in gunfights. “For decades, we buried our loved ones and lived through bomb blasts, gunfire, curfews, fear, and uncertainty,” Bhat said. He emphasized that such realities are far from glamorous and have devastated families and childhoods.
Bhat further criticized the tendency of filmmakers to reduce Kashmir to a battleground,suggesting that they should focus on the resilience of its people rather than perpetuating narratives of violence. “If you truly want to tell the story of Kashmir, tell the story of resilience instead of rage,” he urged,advocating for a narrative centered on rebuilding and aspirations rather than destruction .
Social media users have echoed these sentiments,labeling the teaser as “trivialization” and “deeply insensitive” to those affected by the use of metal pellets by security forces. Activist Sahil Parray questioned the motivations behind such portrayals,asking,“Laughing at pellet victims would sell tickets? How much more hatred are you (Bollywood) going to spread?”
The teaser has also triggered distress among pellet victims who continue to grapple with trauma of their injuries. One victim,speaking anonymously, recounted how film’s imagery brought back painful memories, stating,“The movie teaser scrolled the entire scene when I was hit. The mere recollection gives us sleepless nights.”
A research paper on the psychological effects of pellet injuries in Kashmir indicates that those with eye injuries experience significantly higher rates of psychiatric disorders. Among these, depression was the most common,affecting 30.38% of patients, followed by adjustment disorders and panic disorders. findings underscore the long-lasting mental health challenges faced by those impacted by such violence .
