India tells filmmakers to drop ‘China-bashing’ as ties warm

As India and China work to steady their relationship after years of border tension, Indian filmmakers say projects inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes…

As India and China work to steady their relationship after years of border tension, Indian filmmakers say projects inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes are being reworked, delayed or shelved following official warnings against “China-bashing”.

Bollywood heavyweight Salman Khan’s war drama, initially titled Battle of Galwan, was reportedly asked to change its name to Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace, with several scenes requiring reshoots. A separate film, The Lion of Galwan, has been shelved entirely.

The developments have drawn criticism from filmmakers and academics, who say they expose the selective application of creative freedom in Indian cinema.

The Galwan Valley clash in Ladakh in the summer of 2020 left 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops dead after both sides accused the other of crossing the disputed Line of Actual Control.

A screenshot taken from footage recorded in June 2020 and released by China Central Television in 2021 shows Chinese and Indian soldiers clashing in the Galwan Valley. Photo: CCTV/AFP

Following several rounds of talks, the two countries reached a border disengagement and patrolling agreement in October 2024, aimed at easing tensions while expanding cooperation on trade, security and multilateral diplomacy.

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