Anurag Kashyap's 'Brahmin' remark sparks row, apology fails to quell outrage

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has landed in the eye of a political and social storm after making controversial remarks about Brahmins amid the growing row over his upcoming film 'Phule'. Though Kashyap later issued an apology, the backlash has refused to die down, with leaders across parties slamming him for his choice of words.

The controversy erupted when Kashyap criticized the censor board for allegedly delaying 'Phule', a movie based on social reformers Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule. In response to an online comment defending Brahmins, Kashyap replied in crude language, which many perceived as offensive to the entire community.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed her disappointment, stating that "abusing Brahmins" seems to have become the "new cool thing to do". While acknowledging the historical privileges associated with the caste, she stressed that using derogatory terms against any community was unacceptable.

Union Minister Satish Chandra Dubey reacted even more harshly, branding Kashyap a "vile scumbag" and a "gutter mouth" on social media. He warned the filmmaker of consequences if he did not issue a public apology immediately.

Facing mounting outrage, Kashyap put out a satirical apology, claiming that while he stood by his overall message, he regretted the particular phrase that had fueled the anger. He also revealed that his daughter and family members were receiving rape and death threats as the controversy spiraled.

However, his half-hearted apology did little to soothe tempers, and the matter continues to trend on social media, fueling larger debates around free speech, caste sensitivities, and the boundaries of artistic expression.