The upcoming Indian movie Border has started facing strong criticism in Pakistan even before its release. Many people here believe the film continues the old trend of Indian war movies. That show Pakistan in a negative and aggressive way. Pakistani viewers say such films do not tell the full story. Instead push only one side for political and emotional impact.
Actor Sunny Deol’s statement in the trailer that the voice should be louder so it can “reach Lahore” sparked more controversy. Many Pakistanis are offended by this dialogue because they believe it to be a reckless statement and an open threat. Critics say that such lines encourage anger and glorify fighting, instead of promoting peace or better understanding between the two countries.
From the overall trailer, Border appears to focus heavily on war slogans, loud nationalism, and exaggerated heroism. Pakistani analysts believe Pakistan is once again shown as the enemy, while complex realities are ignored. They argue that such films may excite certain audiences in India, but they damage regional harmony and spread negative feelings.
Many people in Pakistan feel disappointed that India’s entertainment industry keeps using Pakistan to gain attention and create hatred on public about Pakistan all around the world and gain success on box office. Instead of addressing real issues like social problems or human struggles, filmmakers choose war narratives that increase tension.
At the end, attention is also being drawn to another Indian film, Dhurandhar. Pakistani viewers feel Dhurandhar also carries an anti-Pakistan tone, using dramatic spy missions and harsh patriotism to quietly target Pakistan. With Dhurandhar already under criticism and Border now adding controversial dialogues, many Pakistanis believe this is a clear pattern. They say Indian cinema should focus on creating new ideas and stories. That will help and create a strong positive impact on their people instead of defaming Pakistan in every movie.
