By Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi–After facing widespread criticism over recent films like ‘The Kerala Story,’ ‘The Kashmir Files,’ and ’72 Hoorain’ for their perceived anti-Muslim narratives, Bollywood is now embroiled in another controversy with the upcoming Hindi film ‘Humare Baarah’ (formerly titled ‘Hum Do Humare Baarah’), which has drawn major backlash even before its release for its alleged insensitive and inaccurate portrayal of Indian Muslims and broader Islamic practices.
The film’s recently released trailer featuring veteran actor Annu Kapoor has sparked outrage, with many accusing the makers of peddling Islamophobic stereotypes and demonizing the Muslim community. Contentious dialogues seen in the trailer, such as a reference to Muslim families having too many children, have been labelled as regressive and promoting harmful stereotypes. In one scene, Kapoor’s character proudly proclaims “Hum do humare baarah” (We two, our twelve), suggesting he has 12 children. Another shot shows a woman in a burqa questioning why only women go to hell. Such depictions have sparked outrage, with many accusing the filmmakers of peddling Islamophobic narratives and demonizing an entire religious community.
Starring veteran actor Kapoor and TV star Parth Samthaan in his big screen debut, the film deals with themes of rising population levels and is reportedly set in Uttar Pradesh. However, the recently released trailer of the film has drawn widespread criticism from various quarters for promoting negative stereotypes about Muslims being solely responsible for India’s population boom and for depicting Islamic tenets in a distorted manner.
Amid the raging controversy, the film’s lead actor Kapoor had stoked further outrage by claiming the crew had received death threats and warnings of sexual violence over the film’s content. However, the film’s trailer has been abruptly pulled down from online platforms, after releasing on 30th May.
As the June 7th release date approaches, prominent Muslim groups and critics have strongly condemned the perceived vilification, drawing parallels with recent films that were accused of being driven by an anti-Muslim agenda. Concerns have been raised that ‘Humare Baarah’ could inadvertently fuel further prejudices and discrimination towards the minority community.
The film’s director Kamal Chandra has sought to defend his creative vision, stating that the story simply aims to explore different interpretations of Islam through a family’s struggle. However, critics remain unconvinced, highlighting that the trailer appears to propagate regressive stereotypes about Muslim families being overly reproductive and oppressive towards women. The film centres around the story of a Muslim man with 11 children who faces pressure from his daughter to allow his pregnant wife to undergo an abortion due to her health risks. The CBFC recently changed its title from ‘Hum Do Humara Baarah’ to ‘Humaare Baraah.’ The story is written by Rajan Agarwal.
Ajendra Ajay, president of the Badri-Kedar temple committee, is the creative director of ‘Humare Baarah,’ directed by Kamal Chandra and produced by Radhika G Film & Newtech Media Entertainment, Ravi S. Gupta, Birender Bhagat, Sanjay Nagpal, and Sheo Balak Singh. Co-produced by Triloki Prasad, the film stars Annu Kapoor, Parth Samthaan (in his film debut), Ashwini Kalsekar, Rahul Bagga, Paritosh Tiwari, Manoj Joshi, and debutant Aditi Bhatpahri.
In an official statement, Ravi S. Gupta and Birender Bhagat said, “Producing Humare Baarah has been a privilege. All the teams have worked tirelessly to bring this story to life, and I’m thrilled to finally share the film with audiences after so many hurdles. The new title reflects the essence of the movie, and I believe it will resonate with viewers.” With just days until the film hits the big screen, the furore surrounding ‘Humare Baarah’ shows no signs of abating. For a nation still reeling from past religious faultlines exposed by certain provocative films, the looming release has become a new flashpoint in the seemingly never-ending debate around hatred being propagated under the guise of artistic expression.
Story of the film
In essence, the story revolves around Lucknow’s sixty-year-old qawwali singer Mansoor Ali Khan Sanjari (played by Annu Kapoor), who has eleven children from two marriages. The film’s protagonist, Khan Sahib, is depicted as a devout Muslim bound by his religious beliefs. His first wife died after giving birth to six children. He then marries Rukhsana, who is thirty years younger than him, and they have five more children together. Now, Rukhsana is pregnant for the sixth time. Proudly, Khan declares, “If there’s a census next year, our household will be ‘we two and our twelve’.”
Khan Sahib does not send any of his children to school or college, constantly citing Islam, Hadith, Sharia, and God to silence any objections. He himself is uneducated and forbids his children from attending either government or private schools. His stubbornness causes his eldest son’s family to fall apart, and his younger son ends up working as an auto driver. His second daughter secretly qualifies for a competition show, ‘Super Singer,’ but he forbids her from participating in the finals, citing religious reasons. According to the film, Khan has twisted the teachings of Islam to suit his convenience.
The real crisis begins when a woman doctor declares that if Rukhsana does not undergo an abortion, she might die during childbirth. Khan’s eldest daughter, Alfiya, files a case in the Lucknow Bench of the Uttar Pradesh High Court, seeking permission for her stepmother to have an abortion. This marks a turning point in the film, revealing many hidden stories within the household during the court hearings and these stories highlight how the head of the family’s religious extremism and misinterpretation of Islam make life difficult for women in millions of Indian families, according to the story.
Khan Sahib’s daughter, Alfiya, raises the issue of upbringing in her petition. The children tell Khan Sahib that they needed love from him, but he gave them only authority. Khan Sahib responds that he only loves Islam. In court, when Rukhsana’s diary is read aloud, or when Alfiya’s lawyer, Afreen, is emotionally blackmailed by her husband, Siraj, to withdraw the case, or when one of Khan Sahib’s sons says that he was given a tea kettle instead of a pen.
The film explores the internal family struggles that are revealed during the court hearings, emphasizing the impact of religious extremism and the misinterpretation of Islam on women in many recent Indian films. Ultimately, the film portrays Khan Sahib not as a villain but as a man trapped by his limited understanding of his faith, leading to tragic consequences for his family. According to the film, when his alleged foolish religious fanaticism results in the death of his wife, Rukhsana, during the birth of their twelfth child, he delivers a monologue at her grave, lamenting that he never had the chance to learn anything new about Islam. At this point, Rukhsana’s voiceover says, “I have been freed by death, but I have left many women imprisoned in pain.”
Islamophobic and Propaganda Films Weaponizing Against Indian Muslims
According to critics, the ‘Hindutva’ nationalist groups and communal forces in India are increasingly using films and cinema as tools to defame Muslims and further its divisive political agenda, over the past few years. Numerous movies vilifying Muslims have surfaced with backing from the ruling BJP leaders and state governments.
The controversial film ‘The Kashmir Files’ claims that Kashmiri Muslims persecuted and forced out Hindus from the region in 1990, during the Kashmiri insurgency. However, the real reasons behind the exodus of some Hindus remain unexamined, despite demands for an inquiry by Muslim groups. The film peddles an anti-Muslim narrative that “wherever they are in majority, Muslims oppress Hindus.”
Another film, ‘The Kerala Story,’ makes the outrageous claim that 32,000 Hindu girls were converted to Islam and trafficked to ISIS camps in Syria – a claim flatly rejected by government agencies for lack of evidence. Still, BJP leaders endorsed the film and arranged free shows.
Films like ’72 Hoorain’ depict Muslims as terrorists driven by extremism and promises of virgins after martyrdom in paradise – reinforcing Islamophobic stereotypes.
Films like ‘Farhana’ have also portrayed Muslim women in derogatory ways. In ‘Farhana’, the main character, a Hijab-clad woman depicted as a sex worker.
Some of these films, backed by the ruling party and its leaders including PM Modi, are being given tax exemptions and free screenings to proliferate anti-Muslim narratives among the majority population. Critics have called out the blatant propaganda in many of these films that peddle Islamophobic falsehoods as facts to the masses. Critics argue that these “art films” spread disinformation and polarize society for BJP’s electoral gains, even as similar propaganda films are on contentious issues like Pulwama attack, Article 370, and the 2002 Gujarat riots. According to them, the communal elements are using cinema as a vehicle to rewrite history, inflame passion against Muslims, consolidate its Hindutva narrative, and fuel polarization due to elections to get benefit politically.
Reactions of Leaders, Scholars, Intellectuals, Activists
Muslim leaders, scholars, intellectuals, activists, and prominent groups, including the AIMPLB chief, AIMMM leaders, Raza Academy, Ulama, and academics like Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey, and Tahir Mahmood, reacted in unison to boycott and demand the Censor Board of India to ban this controversial film immediately. The film’s controversial portrayal of Muslims and the Quran has sparked widespread condemnation, with various Muslim organizations calling for peaceful yet firm action to prevent its release and counter its potentially harmful impact.
The President of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly criticized the upcoming film “Hamare 12”, calling it propaganda that spreads hatred against Muslims through fabricated stories. In a write up on his social media platform, AIMPLB President Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said such films are made with the intention to fail and render ineffective Islamic teachings on marriage and family relations.
Referring to the film’s trailer depicting a Muslim couple, Maulana Rahmani said it mocks a Quranic verse on intimacy between spouses by portraying it negatively and out of context.
He writes, “the film’s trailer, depicts a character dressed as an Islamic scholar forcefully reciting a verse from the Quran (Al-Baqarah: 223) and follows with scenes implying coercion within marital relations, portraying the husband as a Muslim and the wife in a burqa. The narrative falsely suggests that Muslim women bear numerous children due to these supposed dynamics.”
Elaborating the Quranic verse which reflects a natural human need for companionship and the desire for offspring, a sentiment accepted across all cultures and religions, he explained, “The Quran’s analogy of a wife to a field is a subtle reference to the care, protection, and affection a husband should provide. It suggests that the husband should not merely fulfill his desires and withdraw but should engage in a nurturing, supportive relationship”.
Criticizing the film for perpetuating baseless stereotypes and for its derogatory portrayal of Muslims, Maulana Rahmani pointed out, “In the past, films like the Kashmir Files and the Kerala Story were made on sheer lies and misinformation, which even the government agencies termed them as unfounded. However, since the target was Muslims, no action was taken.”
Urging Muslims to understand the true spirit of Islamic teachings and convey this understanding to their fellow citizens, Maulana Rahmani asserts, “Muslims should grasp the reality behind this propaganda and convey the truth to others, thereby exposing the falsehoods. By spreading the correct Islamic perspective, we can peacefully and democratically counter the negative messages of this film.”
He urged Muslims to peacefully counter the film’s “negative messaging” by raising awareness about the true Islamic principles of a compassionate spousal relationship. The AIMPLB will also explore democratic and legal means to stall the film’s release.
Jamiatul Ulama Hind, Maharashtra (Arshad) has written to the CBFC, demanding a ban on the release of the upcoming film “Hamare 12” on June 7, citing objectionable content defaming Islam and Muslims. In their letter, Jamiat’s acting state president Hafiz Masood Ahmad Husami stated that the film’s trailer circulating on social media contains misinterpretation of Quranic verses and attempts to tarnish the image of Islam and Muslims, which is unacceptable. The Jamiat leader warned that the film’s release could hurt Muslim sentiments and pose a threat to law and order. He warned that if the Censor Board fails to act promptly, they would move into the court against it.
Renowned Islamic scholar, Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, the former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission andcurrent head of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (Regd), has called for banning the upcoming film “Hum Do, Hamare Baarah,” set to release on June 7, 2024. In a statement issued on May 29 on the letter head of All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (Regd), Dr. Khan urged Muslims to protest against the film, which he claims defames Islam, Muslim women, and the Indian Muslim community.
In a letter to the Censor Board of India chairperson, Prasoon Joshi, Dr. Khan criticized the film’s trailer, calling it “offensive, injurious to communal harmony, and defamatory.” He argued that the film perpetuates false narratives about Islam’s stance on women’s rights and promotes hate against Indian Muslims. Dr. Khan has advised Muslims to approach local courts and file petitions seeking a ban on the film, rather than approaching higher courts due to the “current atmosphere.” He has also urged Muslims to register protests with the Censor Board.
Chief of the another faction of AIMMM (Firoze), Advocate Firoze Ahmad has also strongly condemned the trailer of the upcoming film ‘Hamare 12’, calling it a “venomous and mischievous” movie aimed at defaming and spreading hatred against Muslims. In a letter to the Censor Board of India, Advocate Firoze has demanded an immediate ban on the film’s release scheduled for June 7, alleging it defames Islam, Muslims, Muslim women and the Indian Muslim community. He called the film part of a conspiracy to defame and destroy the country through spreading hatred.
The Mumbai based, Raza Academy has strongly condemned the upcoming film ‘Hamare 12′, , accusing it of defaming Islam and Muslims by mocking Islamic teachings and portraying the community in a derogatory manner. In a statement, Raza Academy Secretary Mohammad Arif Razhvi said “anti-Islamic forces” have always tried to malign the image of Islam through propaganda films, portraying Islamic laws as oppressive towards women.
The Academy’s founder and chief Alhaj Mohammad Saeed Noori said they vehemently denounce the movie for allegedly ridiculing Sharia and defaming Muslims. He appealed to the director Kamal Chandra, producer Radhika G Films, Nautanki Media Entertainment and Viacom18 Studios to not release the “controversial” film which could disrupt peace. Questioning the motives behind vitiating the peaceful atmosphere, Noori warned that just like previous hate-mongering movies were rejected by peace-loving citizens, this film too will meet the same fate as people desire progress over divisiveness. The Raza Academy vice-president urged Muslim youths to remain calm and said they are exploring legal options, including approaching the censor board, to seek a ban on the release of this “provocative” movie hurting Muslim sentiments.
The Welfare Party of India (WPI) has demanded a ban on the upcoming Bollywood film ” Hamare Baarah”, calling it an Islamophobic attack on Muslims based on lies and fabricated stories.
Talking to Indiatomorrow.net, WPI President Dr. SQR Ilyas said, “This film is an Islamophobic movie that maligns and defames Indian Muslims deliberately. It is an attack on Islam and the Muslim community.”
Expressing shock that the censor board cleared the movie for telecast, Dr. Ilyas said, “It is very strange to see how the censor board allowed this film to be aired. We demand the government ban this film, otherwise it will defame the country at the international level.”
The WPI chief alleged the filmmakers have resorted to lies and concocted stories to portray Muslims in a negative light. He stated the film is aimed at generating hatred against the minority community. He raised concerns over the content of the film’s trailer, claiming it mocks Islamic teachings and portrays Muslims disrespectfully.
Eminent scholar and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Akhtarul Wasey has termed films like “Hamare 12” as the worst examples of Islamophobia. In a statement, he accused such movies of blatantly defaming and spreading disinformation about Muslims and Islam for cheap publicity and monetary gains. Questioning the baseless claims made in the film about Muslim birth rates, Prof. Wasey stated that government data itself shows declining fertility rates among Muslims compared to other communities in India. He cited research indicating rising education levels and social awareness leading Muslims to have smaller families.Prof. Wasey appealed to the filmmakers to not release the movie and urged the government to ban the screening of such films that promote hatred, communal divide and mockery of Islamic Sharia. Demanding accountability from the Censor Board for clearing the “blatant Islamophobic” movie, Prof. Akhtarul Wasey called upon the government to prevent any such hatred-spreading films that can disrupt law and order situation in the country.
Leading Islamic scholar Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, while demanding a ban, slammed the movie as false propaganda that insults a particular community’s religious sentiments and misrepresents Islamic teachings.
Eminent jurist Prof. Tahir Mahmood accused the filmmakers of grossly disrespecting the Quran and Hadith, making them liable for legal action for hurting religious sentiments through “deliberate mischief and bad faith.”
Padma Shri Dr. Sayeeda Hameed accused the filmmakers of willfully distorting Islamic teachings, especially regarding women’s status, to spread hatred against the community through a “venomous propaganda” film.
Denouncing it as an outright “anti-Islamic” movie made by Hindutva forces, Zikrur Rahman is the Founding Director of the India Arab Cultural Centre, said giving preference to such controversial films is unnecessary and merely for cheap publicity.
Senior journalist Qurban Ali questioned the plausibility of the film’s premise about Muslim families having 12 children amid rising costs, terming it a fictitious movie far removed from reality. He stated the peace-loving public has always rejected hatred-mongering films.
Social activist Dr. Faizan Azizi criticized the censor board for promoting provocative scenes and dialogues that could poison the social fabric instead of its actual role.
Dr. Salim Khan, a prominent leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind from Mumbai and a media personality, has urged Muslims to refrain from vocally opposing the controversial film “Hamaare Baarah,” suggesting that doing so would inadvertently grant it the publicity it seeks. “Overt and loud protests or calls for boycotts will only make the film more popular and successful in the market,” he stated.
Dr. Khan pointed out that previous anti-Muslim films, despite initial uproar, did not perform well commercially and faded into obscurity. However, he acknowledged the importance of taking legal action to prevent the film’s release and filing formal complaints, stressing that all actions should be conducted calmly.
Dr. Khan also praised the contributions of Muslims in Bollywood, noting that they generally depict the community positively and support the pluralistic fabric of society. He highlighted that Muslims in Bollywood has rarely resorted to negative propaganda, maintaining a respectful and inclusive approach.
The NCP led by Sharad Pawar, has submitted a memorandum to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, demanding a ban on the upcoming film ‘ Hamare 12′ and removal of its trailers from YouTube and social media platforms. In the memorandum handed over to the Aurangabad Divisional Commissioner by party vice-president Ilyas Kirmani, the party alleged that the film portrays Islam and Muslims in a distorted manner, hurting religious sentiments.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly criticized the film, accusing the BJP of fostering anti-Muslim sentiment through such productions. “Films like ‘Hamaare Baarah’ are part of a broader agenda to defame Muslims. Instead of addressing real issues like unemployment, they produce films targeting Muslims,” he stated, drawing parallels to Nazi propaganda against Jews.
All India Ulama Board has demanded an immediate ban on the controversial film “Hamaare Baarah,” warning of intense protests if the film is not withdrawn. The Board’s President, Arif Memon Bapu, has written to the Film Censor Board, urging them to prevent the release of the film, which he claims uses derogatory language about the Quran and portrays Muslim family life obscenely.Board National Secretary Anzar Anwar Khan announced plans for street protests, including burning posters and roadblocks, if their demands are not met.
The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has also condemned the film for spreading Islamophobia. Karnataka Vice President Syeda Sadia and other SDPI leaders have submitted memorandums to police stations across the country, demanding action against the film’s release. They argue that the film distorts Islamic teachings and could harm communal harmony.
Activist and writer Samiullah Khan emphasized the need for a robust democratic response to the film’s release, calling for legal action against those involved in creating content that disrespects Islamic values and incites hatred.
One of the major criticisms levelled against the film is that it seems to deliberately misrepresent certain Islamic practices and tenets to suit a particular narrative. For instance, the trailer opens with a scene showing a Muslim religious leader provocatively claiming that women are “the fields of men” and should bear as many children as possible for their husbands.
Many Islamic scholars and experts have categorically stated that such regressive and misogynistic views have no basis in Islamic teachings. They argue that the holy Quran and the prophet’s sayings uphold the equality, dignity and rights of women in the strongest terms. Critics have also taken issue with the film squarely putting the blame for India’s population growth on the Muslim community alone.
Demographers and health experts argue that the issue of rising population levels is an extremely complex phenomenon influenced by a multitude of socio-economic factors across all communities, religions and geographies. Some experts highlighted that states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu with large Muslim populations have in fact shown impressive declines in fertility rates over the years. Conversely, several Indian states with Hindu majorities continue to struggle with high birth rates.
