The Sabarmati Report Is A Political Propaganda Dressed As Factual Thriller?

As The Sabarmati Report gears up for its November 15 release, Ekta Kapoor is out here claiming that her controversial film, based on the 2002 Godhra train burning incident, is nothing more than a “truthful portrayal.” She insists that the film isn’t politically motivated, but let’s be real here—when a film about one of the most politically sensitive and divisive events in recent Indian history drops just before an election, you can’t help but raise an eyebrow.

 

At a recent press conference in Mumbai, Ekta Kapoor was quick to dismiss any connection to political parties or government factions, going as far as declaring, “The only wing here is the wing of truth.” Sounds like a rather dramatic soundbite, doesn’t it? If anything, it’s the wing of convenient timing. For someone who has a reputation for pushing narratives on-screen, you’d think she’d know how to dodge political questions a little better than that. But no, she’s claiming complete neutrality, all while making sure The Sabarmati Report releases just as the Vidhan Sabha elections in Maharashtra approach. Coincidence? Hardly.

 

Let’s talk about the "truth" for a second. The film, starring Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra, is billed as a factual retelling of the events that transpired on the morning of February 27, 2002, when the Sabarmati Express was set on fire at Godhra, killing 59 people. It’s no secret that the incident has been used and abused for political gain ever since, with various parties choosing sides and shaping the narrative to suit their agendas. And now, in 2024, The Sabarmati Report arrives, focusing on just one aspect of the tragedy—how it happened—without delving into the broader, more complicated aftermath. Yeah, that doesn't raise any red flags at all.

 

What makes this even juicier is Ekta’s cryptic response when asked whether she consulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was Gujarat's Chief Minister during the incident. “I am not associated with any wing,” she says, adding that the only wing she’s associated with is the “wing of truth.” Sure, Ekta. And I'm the queen of England. Is there an imaginary wing somewhere that only she can see? Let’s not pretend this isn’t Prime Minister Modi’s Gujarat, and the timing of the film couldn’t be more, let’s say, coincidental if it tried.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong. Ekta Kapoor is a master at making entertaining content—she’s built an empire on it. But calling this film an “honest depiction” of the Godhra incident? A little hard to swallow. This isn’t just a movie. It’s a convenient piece of political theater, timed perfectly to play into the current electoral discourse. Whether it’s the selective focus on the fire itself or the absence of any critical examination of the political and social aftermath, The Sabarmati Report seems more like a political drama dressed up as a historical thriller.

 

So, Ekta, nice try. You can’t fool us with your claims of secularism and truth. You’ve got a "truth" that just happens to align conveniently with a particular narrative. The wing of truth might be flying, but it sure feels like it's headed straight for a political landing.

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