The Film Critics Guild of India (FCG) has publicly denounced a wave of “coordinated abuse” and intimidation targeting film critics over their professional reviews of the high-profile action-thriller Dhurandhar. The guild voiced concern in a statement over threats, personal insults, and coordinated efforts to stifle opposing viewpoints and control editorial content related to the movie.
What Has the Film Critics Guild Said?
The FCG released a detailed statement on social media, asserting that professional disagreement over the film has escalated into harmful campaigns against individual critics.
Key allegations in the statement include:
“Coordinated Abuse”: The guild stated that “what began as a disagreement has rapidly devolved into coordinated abuse, personal attacks on individual critics, and organised attempts to discredit their professional integrity.”
Intimidation and Threats: According to the report, “many of our members have endured intimidation, including direct threats and aggressive online campaigns aimed at silencing their opinions.”
Attempts to Manipulate Reviews: The FCG expressed worry over “attempts to tamper with existing reviews, influence editorial stances, and urge publications to alter or soften their stance.”
The statement concluded with a call for “restraint, respect and a commitment to the principles that allow art, debate and criticism to coexist,” warning that “the integrity of cultural discourse” is at stake.
Official statement from the Film Critics Guild on the targeted attacks and harassment faced by film critics and journalists this week. The Guild strongly condemns this behaviour and stands in solidarity with our colleagues. pic.twitter.com/R3ltKUkfFo
— Film Critics Guild (@theFCGofficial) December 11, 2025
What is the Film Dhurandhar?
Dhurandhar, released on December 5, 2025, is a major Bollywood production inspired by true events. The film, which begins with the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, is written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar (of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame) and stars Ranveer Singh in the lead role as a covert intelligence agent.
The film’s journey has been marked by controversy even before release:
- Legal Challenge: The late Ashoka Chakra recipient Major Mohit Sharma’s family filed a case claiming that the movie unlawfully drew inspiration from his life. The plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court, allowing the movie to be released.
- Box Office & Buzz: The movie has allegedly been gaining traction at the box office despite the pre-release legal battle and the current post-release negative reaction.
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Your Questions Answered: Dhurandhar Critics Controversy FAQs
Q: Who is the Film Critics Guild of India (FCG)?
A: The FCG is a professional organization made up of journalists, analysts, and cinema reviewers from all over India. It seeks to protect its members’ rights and safety while upholding moral principles in film criticism.Q: Are these attacks coming from the film’s makers or studio?
Q: What is the core issue according to the critics’ body?
A: The FCG frames it as an issue of professional freedom and safety. They argue that critics must be able to offer their professional assessment without fear of personal threats, harassment, or organized pressure to change their published opinions.
Q: Has this happened with other Indian films before?
A: Sadly, yes. In recent years, big films have led to harsh online backlash against critics who gave mixed or negative reviews, with social media abuse, rating brigades, and occasional threats. The FCG’s statement formalizes opposition to this behavior.
Q: What could be the impact of this controversy?
A: For Critics: It could make them self-censor or hesitate to give honest reviews of major films. For the Industry: It harms the space for independent film discussion. For the Film: While fan campaigns may create early hype, ongoing harassment of critics can lead to negative publicity and turn away audiences who respect honest reviews.
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