Tollywood Rebel Star Prabhas’ upcoming film Fauzi has landed in a controversy over its depiction of historical events. Chandra Kumar Bose, grandnephew of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has raised concerns about the teaser. He has urged the filmmakers to withdraw it, correct the portrayal and release a revised version.
Inside ‘File No 25’
Released on October 23 to coincide with Prabhas’ 47th birthday, the teaser is titled ‘File No 25’. Directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, it opens in Berlin in 1942 with an imagined conversation between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Adolf Hitler about British rule in India. The footage then introduces Prabhas as a rebel and superspy taking on the British Empire.
Suparno Satpathy Questions Historical Accuracy
The controversy gained attention after socio-political leader Suparno Satpathy shared the teaser on X. He questioned the decision to blend real historical figures with a fictional narrative, even while appreciating its impact.
He wrote, “Dear @hanurpudi Garu, describing in one word this teaser is ‘goosebumps’ … Mixing fiction with history isn’t a good idea… Nevertheless, best wishes are for the release on 19 Mar ‘2027 Netaji Zindabad!! Jai Hind!!… SS”
‘Mixing Fiction With History Is a Crime’
Chandra Kumar Bose subsequently reposted Satpathy’s remarks and endorsed his demand for a revised teaser. He maintained that the filmmakers must ensure historical events are not misrepresented.
In his post on X, Bose 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.”
He also called for the teaser to be corrected before it reaches a wider audience. In another post, Bose said, “The teaser of Fauzi ought to be pulled down, corrected and released again. Should our concern regarding Netaji be resolved (for the teaser as well as for the Movie), my best wishes go out for #Prabhas and the entire team @FauziTheMovie . Hope @hanurpudi realises the seriousness @narendramodi @AshwiniVaishnaw @SuparnoSatpathy.”
Fauzi Eyes Theatrical Release in 2027
The film’s release is still months away, with Fauzi slated to hit cinemas on March 19, 2027. Hanu Raghavapudi is at the helm, while Mythri Movie Makers is producing the project with T-Series Films presenting it. Naveen Yerneni, Y Ravi Shankar and Bhushan Kumar are associated with the production.
