Chandra Kumar Bose, grandnephew of freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, has publicly criticised the makers of the upcoming film 'Fauzi' for allegedly distorting historical facts about Netaji's meeting with Adolf Hitler, and demanded that the director apologise to the people of India. Bose made the remarks in Kolkata on 25 October 2026, following widespread criticism of the film's trailer.

What Chandra Kumar Bose Said

Bose acknowledged that filmmakers have the creative freedom to portray India's freedom struggle and its leaders, but argued that such liberty must not come at the expense of historical accuracy. 'Distorting facts and resorting to fiction while dealing with national icons is, I think, a crime,' he said, alleging that 'Fauzi' presented a warped account of Netaji's interaction with Hitler that diminished the freedom fighter's stature.

He stressed that Netaji had approached Hitler not as a subordinate but as an equal, seeking support for India's independence movement. 'Netaji recognised that Germany's Hitler and Japan's Hideki Tojo could provide assistance to India's freedom movement at that juncture,' Bose said. He added that Netaji 'vehemently opposed fascism and believed in democracy and people's democratic rights.'

The Historical Context

According to Chandra Bose, Hitler acknowledged Netaji's patriotism and agreed to back him — including by providing the submarine that carried him to Southeast Asia. Bose noted that while both leaders were initially driven by the goal of national liberation, Hitler subsequently descended into megalomania. He also pointed out that Hitler's views about India, as expressed in his autobiography 'Mein Kampf', reflected a fundamental misunderstanding of India's history, heritage, and culture.

Notably, this is not the first time that cinematic portrayals of Netaji have triggered public debate. The freedom fighter's legacy — particularly his wartime alliances — remains a sensitive and contested area of Indian historical memory.

The Controversy Around 'Fauzi'

The trailer of 'Fauzi', an Indian period war-action film directed and written by Hanu Raghavapudi, drew sharp criticism for reportedly showing Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose introducing the film's protagonist — played by actor Prabhas — to Adolf Hitler. Critics allege this framing appears to elevate the fictional character while reducing Bose to a secondary figure in his own historical moment, thereby diminishing his stature as one of India's foremost freedom fighters.

Chandra Bose alleged that the director had sensationalised the Netaji-Hitler meeting to generate controversy rather than present an accurate historical account. 'The director should apologise to the people of India and all those who value the country's freedom struggle,' he said.

What Happens Next

The film is yet to release, and it remains to be seen whether the makers will respond to Chandra Bose's demands or revise any elements of the presentation. The controversy has already drawn wider public attention to the film's historical claims, and calls for greater accountability in the depiction of national icons in mainstream cinema are likely to intensify ahead of its release.