Bollywood Rushes to Register Film Titles Inspired by Operation Sindoor

Surge in Film Title Applications Following Military Operation

In a remarkable trend, Bollywood filmmakers and actors are quickly seeking to secure film titles that draw inspiration from the codename of India's recent military operations in Pakistan. Over 30 applications have been submitted in just a span of two days.

The targeted military actions, known as Operation Sindoor, were executed early Wednesday, following a tragic incident that claimed the lives of 26 individuals, primarily tourists, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

Since the operation, there has been a notable increase in title registration requests at the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA), the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), and the Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA).

Anil Nagrath, Secretary of IMPPA, mentioned, “We have received more than 30 title applications related to Operation Sindoor via email, and we expect this number to rise to between 50 and 60. It’s common for filmmakers to apply for titles that resonate with current events, especially those that evoke national pride.”

Nagrath noted that similar title applications were previously submitted for films about Kargil, Uri, and Kumbh.

Titles being sought include Hindustan Ka Sindoor, Mission Operation Sindoor, and Sindoor Ka Badla, along with variations referencing Pahalgam, such as Pahalgam: The Terror Attack and Pahalgam Attack.

Notable figures in the industry, including Aditya Dhar, who directed the acclaimed film Uri: The Surgical Strike, actor Suniel Shetty, and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, are among those who have applied for these titles.

The title allocation process is managed by a committee from IMPPA, IFTPC, or WIFPA, along with the Producers Guild of India, which determines title ownership based on the order of application. Nagrath emphasized that the process is impartial.

The registration fee for a title is set at Rs 300 plus GST, with an expedited option available for Rs 3,000 plus GST.

Nagrath explained that titles must be utilized within three years; otherwise, they will be forfeited.

Earlier reports indicated that Reliance Industries Limited and several others had sought to register the term Operation Sindoor for entertainment services, but Reliance later retracted its application, citing it was mistakenly filed by an unauthorized junior employee.