Hindi
‘Happy Ending’ making match on Tinder
MUMBAI: The much awaited Happy Ending that stars Saif Ali Khan, Ileana D’cruz, Govinda, Kalki Koechlin and Ranvir Shorey is set to release on 21 November. Directed by Raj & DK, Happy Ending is a story about two writers Yudi and Aanchal who are both commitment phobics, and their journey towards a happy ending. Pegged as a ‘Rom-Com about Rom-Coms’, the digital campaign for this film has gone ahead of the traditional social media of Facebook and Twitter and has explored the popular dating app Tinder.
The lead pair of the film, Yudi and Aanchal (Saif and Ileana) joined Tinder three days prior to the release. Post the announcement on social media, a lot of people ‘matched’ their profiles on Tinder and started having a conversation with the characters. The activity quickly picked up and in less than an hour both their Tinder profiles had over 100 matches.
On Twitter, many users engaged in fun conversations with Yudi & Aanchal where the characters asked them to meet them on 21 November hence popularising the release date.
The Glitch group head entertainment strategy Mehak Sabat said, “Look around and you will find the youth is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tinder. If social media platforms are evolving, so should our movie promotion campaigns. With Happy Ending, we are the first to tap the potential of Tinder. We have gained immense traction on the app ever since we have launched this activity, and users are not only reacting to the novelty of the campaign but also relating with the movie protagonists.”
“A small research in our circle helped us find out that Tinder is full of commitment-phobic people! Young boys and girls just looking to spend some fun time together not really caring about ‘Where is this relationship going?’ and knowing our characters as from Happy Ending Yudi & Aanchal, we were sure they would definitely be the first ones to sign up on Tinder. What better way to get the boys to fall in awe of Aanchal and the girls to fall for Yudi?,” Eros International marketing team said.
Happy Ending releases in theatres this Friday.
Hindi
SC slams Neeraj Pandey over Ghooskhor Pandat title, orders rebrand
SC says film cannot release under current title, seeks new name by February 19.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has delivered a stern reality check to acclaimed filmmaker Neeraj Pandey, directing a mandatory name change for his upcoming Netflix project, Ghooskhor Pandat. On Thursday, a bench comprising justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan made it clear that creative freedom does not grant a licence to denigrate specific communities.
The title, which translates to Bribe-taking Brahmin, sparked a firestorm of protest from groups arguing the name was a slur against the Brahmin caste. The court’s intervention has now pushed the production into a legal corner, requiring a complete rebranding before the film can be released.
The highlights of the hearing were the sharp observations made by the bench regarding modern filmmaking and social responsibility. Justice Nagarathna pointedly questioned the necessity of using provocative titles that could incite social friction.
“Being woke is one thing. But creating this kind of unrest when there is already unrest in the country… If you use your freedom to denigrate any section of society, we cannot permit it,” the justice remarked during the proceedings.
The court emphasized that the Constitutional principle of fraternity is just as important as the right to free speech. The bench suggested that filmmakers must be mindful of reasonable restrictions, especially when a title appears to target the dignity of a particular group.
Interestingly, this was not the filmmakers’ first encounter with the legal system over this project. Earlier in February, Netflix and Neeraj Pandey had already informed the Delhi High Court that they had made a conscious decision to change the title following the initial public outcry.
Despite this earlier admission, the Supreme Court felt it necessary to formalise the matter. The judges were firm that the film would not see a digital release under its original branding, expressing concern that equating a caste identity with corruption was a step too far for a diverse society.
“Why should any section of society be denigrated? We are not here to allow people to be insulted in the name of entertainment,” the bench noted, while issuing formal notices to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
Representing the makers, counsel for Pandey and Netflix clarified that the word “Pandat” was intended as a colloquial nickname for the lead character, a gritty police officer played by Manoj Bajpayee, rather than a commentary on the priesthood or the Brahmin community.
Regardless of the intent, the court has demanded a formal commitment. Neeraj Pandey has been directed to file an affidavit by 19 February 2026, proposing a new title and confirming that the film’s content does not defame any community.
With the original trailers and social media teasers already scrubbed from the internet, the film is currently in a state of creative redesign. The industry is watching closely, as this ruling sets a significant precedent for how streaming platforms handle sensitive cultural labels in India.
