Why Chinese Media Targets Salman Khan’s Battle of Galwan After Teaser Launch: The teaser of Salman Khan’s upcoming war drama ‘Battle of Galwan‘ has been released, and it is receiving a lot of love in India. However, the teaser has sparked sharp reactions from Chinese state media as it reignited debates around the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The controversy has once again highlighted how cinema, nationalism, and geopolitics often collide. Many Chinese outlets accused the film of “distorting facts”. The response has raised an important question: why is Beijing so unsettled by a Bollywood teaser?
What Battle of Galwan Is About
Battle of Galwan is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, and it is based on the brutal hand-to-hand combat between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh in June 2020. Salman Khan is in the role of Colonel Bikkumalla Santosh Babu. Colonel Santosh Babu is the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment, and he has lost his life while leading Indian soldiers during the clash. The film has other stars like Chitrangada Singh, Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, and Vipin Bhardwaj.
The Galwan clash is one of the most serious military confrontations that happened between India and China in decades. India officially acknowledged the loss of 20 soldiers. However, China initially denied casualties and later admitted to losing four troops.
Watch Battle of Galwan Teaser
Chinese Media’s Objections Explained
China’s state-run newspaper ‘Global Times‘ was quick to attack the teaser. And, they claimed that the film presents an “emotionally charged” and “over-the-top” narrative, and it does not align with facts. The report has also dismissed Colonel Santosh Babu’s role as a “so-called pivotal role”, and the newspaper went on to argue that no film can challenge the People’s Liberation Army’s resolve to defend China’s “sovereign territory”.
The article has also reiterated China’s long-standing position that the Galwan Valley lies on its side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). This places blame on Indian troops for allegedly crossing the boundary and provoking the clash. Additionally, it accused India of increasing casualty figures with the help of cinema to mislead the international community.
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Why the Teaser Triggered Such a Reaction
The sharp response from Chinese media hints not just towards discomfort with a film but also signals anxiety over narrative control. The Galwan clash has been a sensitive topic for Beijing. It is very sensitive to China because it has disrupted China’s earlier claims of peaceful border management. Moreover, as the Battle of Galwan has Salman Khan, the response from China was much louder. Salman Khan has the ability to shape public perception, not just in India but globally.
Chinese commentators also accused India of using Bollywood as a tool to stir nationalism. However, such criticism underscores the influence of Indian cinema. It shows how Indian cinema is capable of challenging official versions of history.
Reactions From Indian Film Industry
Indian filmmakers strongly pushed back against the Chinese criticism. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit called the reaction “insecurity”. He stated that Indian films naturally expose hostile actions by enemy nations. Actor-producer Rahul Mitra has also added that serious films are backed by extensive research and dismissed claims about making the movie to distort facts or promote propaganda.
Cinema, History and Soft Power
The Battle of Galwan is huge, and it reveals how films today operate as instruments of soft power. China insists that “no drama can rewrite history.” But its aggressive response suggests concern over how stories of the Galwan clash are being told.
Conclusion
All in all, the Battle of Galwan has triggered violent reactions from Chinese media. However, this might work in favour of the film. It will be interesting to see what the future has for the Battle of Galwan and how China will react to it.
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