'Javed Akhtar Saab, You Never Had Guts To Mock Allah Or Islam': Anand Ranganathan

Author and commentator Anand Ranganathan has ignited a fresh cultural flashpoint by launching a scathing attack on veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, turning a decades-old scene from Sholay into a combustible debate on faith, freedom, and selective satire.

The controversy erupted after Ranganathan shared a video on X, directly countering Akhtar's recent remarks about a famous Sholay sequence involving a Lord Shiva idol. Akhtar had suggested that such a scene-where Dharmendra's character hides behind a Shiva murti, creating the illusion that the deity is speaking to Hema Malini's character-would be impossible to write or screen in today's India. Ranganathan was having none of it.

"Wrong, Javed saab," Ranganathan wrote, blunt and unapologetic. According to him, the scene could very well be shown today. The difference, he argued, is not censorship or fascism-but questioning. "In today's India," he said, "Hindus will ask you why you never had the guts to mock Allah or Islam in the same way."

In the video, Ranganathan accused Akhtar of pushing a narrative that paints modern India as intolerant while ignoring what he called decades of one-sided mockery. "For 50 years, you had the courage to deride Hindu beliefs, temples, and priests," he said. "Today, people are simply asking-why only Mandir? Why not Masjid?" Using a sharp metaphor, Ranganathan added that just as a few drops of lemon can curdle milk, selective criticism can spoil social harmony.

Akhtar's original comments were made during a 2024 panel discussion with author and academic Makarand Paranjape, where the lyricist reflected on religion, dharma, and changing social sensibilities. Citing Sholay, Akhtar questioned whether contemporary India would allow playful or irreverent portrayals of Hindu deities. "Is it possible to have a scene like that today? No," he said, insisting he would not write such a scene now.

He went further, pointing out that Hindus and deeply religious people existed even in 1975, when Sholay was released. According to Akhtar, India's strength lay in its ability to accommodate multiple truths and beliefs. He also made a provocative comparison, cautioning Hindus against becoming rigid or intolerant, remarks that have since been seized upon by critics as inflammatory.

The timing of the controversy is significant. Sholay recently marked 50 years since its release on August 15, 1975, prompting renewed discussions around its legacy. In a separate interview with ETimes, Akhtar recalled the film's rocky start at the box office and how he and Salim Khan stood by it unwaveringly. Confident to the point of bravado, the duo even took out advertisements guaranteeing the film would cross Rs 1 crore-a bold move when trade pundits had written it off.

What began as nostalgia around a cinematic milestone has now morphed into a fierce ideological battle. Ranganathan's rebuttal has struck a chord with many who believe artistic freedom in India has long operated with double standards. Akhtar's defenders, meanwhile, argue that the lyricist was merely lamenting shrinking creative space.

Between Sholay's temple scene and today's Twitter wars, one thing is clear: the fight over who gets mocked, who gets offended, and who controls the narrative is far from over.