New Delhi: India on December 30 firmly pushed back against criticism from China’s state-run Global Times over the forthcoming Bollywood film Battle of Galwan, asserting that creative freedom is a core principle of Indian cinema and cannot be constrained by foreign political sensitivities.
Government sources said films depicting India–China military confrontations are not new, citing classics such as Haqeeqat on the 1962 war and 121: Battle of Rezang La as earlier examples of cinema engaging with sensitive military history. Storytellers, they stressed, are free to choose narratives they consider significant, and such artistic expression should not be politicised.
The rebuttal came after a Global Times article criticised the teaser of Battle of Galwan, alleging it misrepresents the June 2020 clash in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. The Chinese daily downplayed the role of Indian Army officer Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who was killed in the confrontation, and claimed Chinese social media users viewed the film as exaggerated. It reiterated Beijing’s position that Indian troops crossed the Line of Actual Control, accused New Delhi of inflating casualty figures, and alleged an attempt to malign the People’s Liberation Army, despite China acknowledging its own casualties only much later.
Indian sources dismissed these allegations, reiterating that the government has no involvement in the making of the film and fully respects freedom of expression. They added that anyone seeking factual clarification may approach the Ministry of Defence.
Battle of Galwan is based on the real-life confrontation involving the Indian Army’s 16 Bihar Regiment and draws from India’s Most Fearless 3 by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh. Salman Khan essays the role of Colonel Santosh Babu.
Officials underlined that India’s position is clear: cinema is an artistic medium, not a diplomatic tool, and creative freedom will not be curtailed to accommodate external narratives.
