State-owned Indian TV channel rejects streaming of biopic on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
New Delhi: In a move criticized as showing bias towards Muslims, Indian state-owned broadcasting channel Doordarshan has refused to stream the first biopic on Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of Aligarh Muslim University.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the film, ‘Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: The Messiah’ was premiered by AMU vice-chancellor, Naima Khatoon, with a considerable audience.
In a letter, Doordarshan’s program executive informed the filmmakers that the program, based on Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, did not meet the criteria for streaming.
Shoaib Choudhury, the producer and the protagonist of the biopic, expressed shock at the rejection, calling it a result of political maneuvering. “It is shocking that my biopic on Sir Syed, a leading reformist and educationist has failed to qualify to stream on the nation OTT platform”, he said.
President of AMU Old Boys Association, Delhi, Mudassir Hayat, stressed the importance of showing such a biopic to the new generation, noting, “This biopic can display conceptions and inspire the new generations to take education as a tool for progress.”
Viewers have hailed the biopic as outstanding and impactful, with many saying it resonates with contemporary Muslim issues and highlights the importance of education. Critics argue that this raises several questions including the intentions behind the rejection of a biopic based on the life and struggles of an influential Muslim educationist.
