Razakar:The silent Genocide of Hyderabad releasing on March 15 in theatres. This is a drama history movie directed by Yaata Satyanarayana and produced by Gudur Narayana Reddy, a BJP leader who wanted to release the movie in the run up to the Telangana Assembly elections when the state government was led by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) had said in September 2023 that the state government would stop the movie’s release and bring up the issue with the censor board.
The story of the movie revolves around the Hyderabad Liberation Movement of 1948. Capture the struggles of Andhra Pradesh and its people in the early days of Independence to reclaim their religion and identity in the face of military and political oppression.
The teaser of Razakar – Silent Genocide of Hyderabad, a movie purported to bring out the historic realities of Nizam rule in Telangana just before and after Indian independence, was released in September 2023. The teaser claims that the Nizam’s aim was to make Hyderabad an independent Islamic state and a silent genocide was committed on the Hindu population of Hyderabad state.
Razakars were responsible for the murder of 880 people and the rape of about 1,125 women before August 1948. The situation in areas under the control of communists was entirely different, as people resisted and replied to the Razakars in the same coin.
Set in the background of Hyderabad’s annexation to the Union of India, the movie explains Operation Polo, the involvement of former Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhai Patel and Hyderabad’s last Nizam Osman Ali Khan’s attempts to stay as an independent state’s ruler.
The Razakars were an active paramilitary force who attacked villagers and activists of the Telangana peasant struggle led by the Communist Party of India (CPI). However, the visuals, narrative of the movie Razakar clearly divides the group into an us-vs-them narrative, branding anyone belonging to the Muslim community as deeply villainous while the Hindus pass off as honourable and saintly.
The star cast includes Raj Arun, Bobby Simha, Anasuya Bhardwaj, Vedhika, Indarja, John Vijay, Thalaivasal Vijay, makrand Deshpandey, Tej Sapru, Prema, Ravi Prakash, Mahesh Achanta, Keshav Deepak and many more in pivotal roles.
‘Razakar: The Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad’ is releasing in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada,Malayalam and Hindi. Interestingly, Actor Kangana Ranaut unveiled the trailer of Telugu movie ‘Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad’ at an event in Mumbai in 2023.
#Razakar – The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/DIrYOqn4Ry
— Suresh Kochattil (@kochattil) March 1, 2024
She wrote, “Here’s #razakarmovie trailer…. do watch it, it is very impressive, I am a big fan of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ji, as a goodwill gesture accepted to unveil the trailer for the media here in Mumbai, thank you for inviting e, congratulations to the whole team.”
The trailer showcases suffering and frustration of Hindus during the oppressive rule of the Nizam and his ruthless militia, the Razakars. It also intertwines narratives of bravery and perseverance amidst Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s strategic endeavors to free the Deccan region from tyranny.
“Razakar:The silent Genocide of Hyderabad” facing Legal trouble to release
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Telangana High Court seeking to halt the release of the contentious film “Razakar: The Silent Genocide of Hyderabad,” citing fears of it inciting communal unrest. The hearing of the PIL is scheduled for March 11, 2024.
APCR’s concerns are rooted in the historical context of the Razakars and the sensitive nature of communal relations in the region. The Razakars were a paramilitary force associated with the Nizam’s regime in Hyderabad, resisting the integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union after independence, which a delicate subject is touching upon historical, religious, and regional identities.
The filing of the PIL was motivated by “growing concerns regarding the potentially inflammatory and divisive content of the movie, which has raised apprehensions of inciting communal disharmony,” said, Nadeem Khan, the Secretary of APCR. He also said the same was done following a collective agreement from the National Executive Committee of the organisation. Advocate Afsar Jahan, Vice President of APCR’s Telangana chapter, will represent APCR in their case.
The film, slated for a March 15 release, has been mired in controversy with critics arguing it to be “blatantly Islamophobic” and lacking nuanced storytelling. The film, accused of painting a derogatory portrayal of the Muslim community, has stirred a significant uproar, particularly following the release of its initial trailer in September 2023.