Bawaal controversy: Israel ambassador calls Auschwitz- Holocaust a ‘POOR’ representation in Varun Dhawan-Janhvi Kapoor starrer

Ambassador of Israel Naor Gilon has commented on the Holocaust representation in Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Bawaal. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film released on Amazon Prime Video on July 21, and has been a topic of discussion ever since. Now, Mr. Naor Gilon has said that though he has not watched the movie, the trivialisation of the Holocaust should disturb all.

What Ambassador of Israel Naor Gilon has to say about Bawaal

“I did not and will not watch the film Bawaal but from what I’ve read, there was a poor choice of terminology and symbolism. Trivialisation of the Holocaust should disturb all. I urge those who don’t know enough about the horrors of the #Holocaust to educate themselves about it,” the ambassador wrote.

I did not and will not watch the film Bawaal but from what I’ve read, there was a poor choice of terminology and symbolism.
Trivialization of the Holocaust should disturb all.
I urge those who don’t know enough about the horrors of the #Holocaust to educate themselves about it.

— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) July 28, 2023

“The Israeli embassy is disturbed by the trivialization of the significance of the Holocaust in the recent movie ‘Bawaal’. There was a poor choice in the utilization of some terminology in the movie, and though we assume no malice was intended, we urge everyone who may not be fully aware of the horrors of the Holocaust to educate themselves about it. Our embassy is constantly working to propagate educational materials on this crucial subject, and we are open to engaging in conversations with all individuals to foster a better understanding of the universal lessons derived from the Holocaust.,” the embassy tweeted.

The Israeli embassy is disturbed by the trivialization of the significance of the Holocaust in the recent movie 'Bawaal'.

There was a poor choice in the utilization of some terminology in the movie, and though we assume no malice was intended, we urge everyone who may not be…

— Israel in India (@IsraelinIndia) July 28, 2023

What has led to the big ‘Bawaal’

For the unversed, one of Bawaal’s controversial quotes comes from a Holocaust survivor who claims that “every relationship goes through its Auschwitz,” alluding to the notorious concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany where untold numbers of Jews were murdered. Another controversial statement made by Janhvi Kapoor‘s character claims that every person is a Hitler since they are all greedy. Netizens have been pointing out how insensitively some of the dialogues in the film are casually drawing comparisons to something as terrifying and heartbreaking as the World War II.

A Jewish organisation, The Simon Wiesenthal Center, even wrote to the streaming platform Amazon Prime asking it to stop streaming the movie for its insensitive portrayal of the Holocaust. “By having the protagonist in this movie declare that ‘Every relationship goes through their Auschwitz’, Nitesh Tiwari [the director], trivialises and demeans the memory of six million murdered Jews and millions of others who suffered at the hands of Hitler’s genocidal regime,” the statement said.

Also Read: Drama over Bawaal scene but no backlash over controversial Oppenheimer Bhagavad Gita scene: Why white worshipping is a big problem!