Prabhas' Fauzi row explained: Netaji-Hitler scene, backlash and demand for apology

Chandra Kumar Bose, grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has objected to Prabhas' recently released Fauzi teaser, which showcases the freedom fighter's interaction with Hitler during their 1942 meeting. He called the mixing of fiction with history a crime, urging the makers to reconsider the portrayal.

In Short

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew demanded the withdrawal and revision of Prabhas' Fauzi teaser
• The teaser's dramatisation of Netaji's meeting with Hitler has sparked controversy
• The film is directed by Hanu Raghavapudi

Prabhas’ upcoming film Fauzi has landed in controversy over its portrayal of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the teaser. Chandra Bose, Netaji’s grandnephew, criticised the teaser, which opens with Netaji meeting Adolf Hitler to take on British rule, and urged the makers to withdraw it. He argued that creative liberty should not come at the cost of distorting historical facts, particularly when depicting national icons.

In a post on X, he wrote, “Mixing fiction with history is a crime. I hope @hanurpudi and his team @fauzithemovie / @MythriOfficial pull down this teaser, put out a new one and make sure that history is not distorted. Hope #Prabhas too gets to read this.”

Speaking to IANS, Chandra Bose reiterated his objection, saying filmmakers are free to make movies about the freedom struggle and portray revolutionaries. However, he stressed that historical accuracy remains important when presenting such figures to audiences. “Distortion of facts and treading on fiction, dealing with national icons, freedom fighters, and personalities, I think is a crime,” he said.

His objection has brought attention to a key question surrounding the teaser: where should filmmakers draw the line between dramatic licence and the portrayal of historical figures?

What does the Fauzi teaser show?

Released on Prabhas' 47th birthday, the two-minute-and-31-second teaser introduces him as a rebel soldier fighting British rule. It opens with a depiction of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose meeting German dictator Adolf Hitler during World War II in 1942. While the meeting is historically documented, the dialogue and its framing have sparked controversy.

In the teaser, Bose speaks about his Bhagavad Gita-inspired code and his ability to infuriate the British. Viewers on social media have questioned the dramatisation, arguing that the sequence uses the historical figure to elevate Prabhas' character.

Prabhas appears to play a fictional soldier based in Kolkata who has been on the British establishment's radar since 1932. Introduced as 'India's biggest rebel soldier', the character is portrayed as a wanted man determined to overthrow colonial rule.

The teaser culminates in a fiery dialogue from the actor: “Abey oo firangi, main tera khoon lunga aur azaadi bhi chheen kar.” The line, which translates to a threat to draw British blood and seize freedom, establishes the character's rebellious nature.

The controversy is centered on how the dramatised interaction connects a real historical figure's words and ideology to a fictional protagonist. Chandra Bose, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew, has objected to the portrayal, arguing that filmmakers should not distort history while depicting a national icon. His objection is to the dialogue and its presentation, not the historical meeting itself.

The issue highlights the responsibility filmmakers face when blending documented history with commercial fiction, particularly when promotional material offers little clarity on creative additions. The makers of Fauzi have yet to respond to the objection.

All About Fauzi

Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, Fauzi is a period action drama set against the backdrop of India's struggle for independence. Prabhas plays a rebel soldier, while Imanvi Esmail, Subodh Bhave, Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher are a part of the supporting cast.

The film is backed by Mythri Movie Makers, with T-Series Films presenting it. Naveen Yerneni, Y Ravi Shankar and Bhushan Kumar are producing the project.

While the teaser promises action and patriotic themes, the controversy has shifted attention to the film's portrayal of Bose. The key question is whether the makers will respond to Chandra Bose's demand to withdraw the teaser and reconsider the sequence ahead of the film's scheduled theatrical release on March 19, 2027.

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