WaldoOakes4 at 03:05, 9 March 2026

2026-03-09T03:05:10Z

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{{Short description|Opposition to apparent Muslim influence in Bollywood}}
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{{redirect|Urduwood|Bollywood as a whole|Hindi cinema|the Pakistani Urdu-language film industry|Lollywood}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2024}}
In recent years in India, several [[boycott]]s have been organized by advocates of [[Hindutva]] against [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]]-language films. Some of the boycotters are using the pejorative [[neologism]] "Urduwood" to characterise the [[Hindi|Hindi-language]] [[Bollywood]] film industry as a [[Muslim]]-dominated, anti-Hindu industry, which would favour [[Urdu]] language over Hindi.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last1=Raj |first1=Kaushik |last2=Gurmat |first2=Sabah |date=2022-09-30 |title=Bollywood under siege as rightwing social media boycotts start to bite |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/30/bollywood-under-siege-as-rightwing-social-media-boycotts-start-to-bite |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210254/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/sep/30/bollywood-under-siege-as-rightwing-social-media-boycotts-start-to-bite |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Why right wing hates Bollywood |url=https://www.theweek.in/columns/swara-bhasker/2022/09/03/why-right-wing-hates-bollywood.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Week |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210254/https://www.theweek.in/columns/swara-bhasker/2022/09/03/why-right-wing-hates-bollywood.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Hindutva Protesters Stop Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor From Entering MP Temple |url=https://thewire.in/rights/hindutva-brahmastra-alia-bhatt-ranbir-kapoor-temple |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Wire |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210253/https://thewire.in/rights/hindutva-brahmastra-alia-bhatt-ranbir-kapoor-temple |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=decine21.com |date=2022-10-04 |title=Bollywood pasa a ser conocido como Urduwood - decine21.com |url=https://decine21.com/noticias/124499-bollywood-urduwood |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Decine21 |language=es-es |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210253/https://decine21.com/noticias/124499-bollywood-urduwood |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Is the Hindu Nationalist 'Boycott Bollywood' Campaign Impacting the Box Office? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/is-hindu-nationalists-boycott-bollywood-campaign-impacting-the-box-office/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930204312/https://thediplomat.com/2022/09/is-hindu-nationalists-boycott-bollywood-campaign-impacting-the-box-office/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-05 |title=Dissecting the language of Baahubali trolls: 'Hindu film', 'Urduwood', 'Chrislamist critic' |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/dissecting-the-language-of-baahubali-trolls-hindu-film-urduwood-chrislamist-critic-3425664.html |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Firstpost |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210255/https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/dissecting-the-language-of-baahubali-trolls-hindu-film-urduwood-chrislamist-critic-3425664.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==

Bollywood has historically had many [[Islam in India#Prominent Muslims in India|Muslims]] involved in the production of its movies, with some of the most popular film stars being Muslim, especially the [[Khans of Bollywood]] and many of the lyricists and songwriters infusing [[Urdu]] into the scripts;<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Subramanian |first=Samanth |date=2022-10-10 |title=When the Hindu Right Came for Bollywood |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/17/when-the-hindu-right-came-for-bollywood |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=2023-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130061141/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/10/17/when-the-hindu-right-came-for-bollywood |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood Is a Major Target for Right Wing Groups Looking for Signs of 'Hinduphobia' |url=https://thewire.in/film/bollywood-target-right-wing-groups-hinduphobia-tandav |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Wire |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027211705/https://thewire.in/film/bollywood-target-right-wing-groups-hinduphobia-tandav |url-status=live }}</ref> Urdu, which is heavily influenced by Middle Eastern languages such as [[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Arabic]], is generally associated with [[Islam in India|Muslims]] (see [[Hindi–Urdu controversy|Hindi-Urdu controversy]]).<ref>{{Cite news |title=The siege of Bollywood |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2021/02/25/the-siege-of-bollywood |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0013-0613 |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027212316/https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2021/02/25/the-siege-of-bollywood |url-status=live }}</ref> Allegations about Bollywood portraying [[Hindus]] and [[Hinduism]] [[Anti-Hindu sentiment|in negative light]] in the name of [[secularism]] in films like ''[[PK (film)|PK]]'' (2014) have emerged following the victory of the [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] [[2014 Indian general election|in 2014]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-12-26 |title=Why is Bollywood film PK controversial? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-30602809 |access-date=2025-12-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Names ==
Along with "Urduwood", related terms that are used are "Khanwood" (referring to the prominence in Bollywood of actors with the common South Asian Muslim [[Khans of Bollywood|last name Khan]]), "Jihadwood", and "[[Dawood Ibrahim#In popular culture|Dawood]]-wood".<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=The Bollywood saga: Social media ruining the relation |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/herbinger/the-bollywood-saga-social-media-ruining-the-relation-45244/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027211657/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/herbinger/the-bollywood-saga-social-media-ruining-the-relation-45244/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Boycotts ==
Accusations of Bollywood films hurting Hindu sentiments have prompted calls for boycotts against several major films in recent years, using the [[Hashtag activism|hashtag]] #BoycottBollywood;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mallick, Kritika |first=Abhilash |date=2022-10-07 |title=The Booming 'Boycott Bollywood' Trend: Who Are the Players Behind It? |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/people-behind-the-boycott-bollywood-trend-analysis |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=TheQuint |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027211704/https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/people-behind-the-boycott-bollywood-trend-analysis |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-06 |title=Decoding the #BoycottBollywood trend |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/entertainment/decoding-the-boycottbollywood-trend-how-the-film-industry-is-dealing-with-hate-and-hashtags-15600631.htm |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=cnbctv18.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027215250/https://www.cnbctv18.com/entertainment/decoding-the-boycottbollywood-trend-how-the-film-industry-is-dealing-with-hate-and-hashtags-15600631.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="fl">{{Cite web |last=P |first=Jinoy Jose |date=2022-09-22 |title=Something is rotten: Understanding the Bollywood boycott phenomenon |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/cinema/something-is-rotten-understanding-the-bollywood-boycott-phenomenon/article65902023.ece |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Frontline |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029160657/https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/cinema/something-is-rotten-understanding-the-bollywood-boycott-phenomenon/article65902023.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> However, some boycotts also happen to be politically motivated, as in the case of ''[[Chhapaak]]'' (2020), a film about an [[Acid attack|acid-attack]] survivor which received calls of boycott due to the lead actress [[Deepika Padukone]] expressing support to [[Students' Federation of India|SFI]] member & [[Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union|JNUSU]] head [[Aishe Ghosh]] after she was [[2020 Jawaharlal Nehru University attack|physically assaulted]] by male [[Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad|ABVP]] cadres at [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|JNU]] during [[Citizenship Amendment Act protests]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BJP calls for boycott of 'Chhapaak' following Deepika Padukone's visit to JNU; opposition stands in support of actress |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/bjp-calls-for-boycott-of-chhapaak-following-deepika-padukones-visit-to-jnu-opposition-stands-in-support-of-actress/articleshow/73153881.cms |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com}}</ref> Bollywood producers have said that the threat of boycotts has led them to avoid portrayal of certain topics in their films like [[Interfaith marriage|interfaith romances]] involving Muslims (viewed [[Love jihad conspiracy theory|negatively]] by Hindu nationalists) .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goyal |first=Prateek |date=2022-12-28 |title=Why 2022 was the year of #BoycottBollywood |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/12/28/why-2022-was-the-year-of-boycottbollywood |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Newslaundry |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210254/https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/12/28/why-2022-was-the-year-of-boycottbollywood |url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, there have been more recent films which cater to [[Hindutva]] [[Propaganda through media|propaganda]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Bollywood's silence proved convenient for India's Right Wing |url=https://www.southasiantoday.com.au/article-10194-how-bollywoods-silence-proved-convenient-for-indias-right-wing-details.aspx |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=South Asian Today |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227201751/https://www.southasiantoday.com.au/article-10194-how-bollywoods-silence-proved-convenient-for-indias-right-wing-details.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> However, some films like ''[[Pathaan (film)|Pathaan]]'' (2023) have been able to succeed regardless of the boycotts,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=2023-02-04 |title=Pathaan and the king of cinema blast Bollywood out of the doldrums |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/feb/04/pathaan-shah-rukh-khan-bollywood-out-of-doldrums |access-date=2023-10-27 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210255/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/feb/04/pathaan-shah-rukh-khan-bollywood-out-of-doldrums |url-status=live }}</ref> and there seems to have been an overall limited impact on boycotted movies' revenues.<ref name="fl"/>

Some boycotters have called for [[Cinema of South India|South Indian cinema]] to be promoted instead, claiming that it was more respectful in representing [[Hinduism|Hindu culture]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manga |first=Dhiren |date=2022-12-13 |title=Will #BoycottPathaan impact SRK's film? |url=https://www.desiblitz.com/content/will-boycottpathaan-impact-srks-film |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=DESIblitz |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027210256/https://www.desiblitz.com/content/will-boycottpathaan-impact-srks-film |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-27 |title=Explained: The #BoycottBollywood trend, and its impact on the industry |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/boycott-bollywood-trend-impact-on-industry-explained-8115054/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828083414/https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-culture/boycott-bollywood-trend-impact-on-industry-explained-8115054/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood's problem is not boycotts, it is the quality. Or lack of it |url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-bollywoods-problem-is-not-boycotts-it-is-the-quality-or-lack-of-it-512585 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=WION |date=3 September 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=2023-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029160658/https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-bollywoods-problem-is-not-boycotts-it-is-the-quality-or-lack-of-it-512585 |url-status=live }}</ref> however some South Indian films like ''[[Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food]]'' (2023) and ''[[L2: Empuraan]]'' (2025) were also boycotted by them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellis-Petersen |first=Hannah |date=2024-01-12 |title=Netflix pulls Indian film after backlash from rightwing Hindu groups |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/jan/12/netflix-pulls-indian-film-annapoorani-the-goddess-of-food-after-backlash-from-rightwing-hindu-groups |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126061731/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/jan/12/netflix-pulls-indian-film-annapoorani-the-goddess-of-food-after-backlash-from-rightwing-hindu-groups |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-19 |title=Adipurush row: Mob protests at mall in Maha's Palghar, asks people to boycott screening |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/adipurush-row-mob-protests-mall-maharashtra-palghar-boycott-screening-8672886/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126061731/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/adipurush-row-mob-protests-mall-maharashtra-palghar-boycott-screening-8672886/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==

=== Events ===

* [[2020 Bengaluru drug raids]], controversy in Kannada cinema
* [[Death of Sushant Singh Rajput]], controversial 2020 suicide of a Bollywood actor which increased the boycotts
* "[[Besharam Rang]]", 2023 Bollywood song involved in boycott controversy

=== Film topics ===

*[[List of films banned in India]]
* [[Muslim social]], an early Bollywood film genre
* [[List of genres#Puranic|Puranic]], an Indian film genre

=== Religious and linguistic topics ===

*[[Sanskritisation (language)]], a linguistic change favoured by Hindu nationalists
* [[Hindi–Urdu controversy]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hindu nationalism}}

[[Category:Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:Hindustani language]]
[[Category:Religious controversies in film]]
[[Category:Islam-related controversies in Asia]]
[[Category:Propaganda in India]]
[[Category:Political controversies in India]]
[[Category:Political controversies in film]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related mass media and entertainment controversies]]

Hindutva boycott of Hindi cinema - Revision history

WaldoOakes4 at 03:05, 9 March 2026