A film produced and released on Feb. 7 in Odisha state has created a huge uproar among
the Christian community, many fearing it may stoke communal tensions and even lead to riots.
Two petitions filed in the High Court to stop the film’s screening were rejected, and the film is now showing in theaters throughout Odisha. Christians in at least 20 of Odisha’s 30 districts petitioned district officials, cautioning of potential attacks due to the film’s content.
The film, titled Sanatani: Karma Hi Dharma in the Oriya language, allegedly deals with religious conversions in the tribal-dominated regions of Odisha, according to Christian leaders.
The leaders claimed the film misrepresents conversion as a criminal activity and has distorted key aspects of Christian doctrine and Jesus Christ.
However, producers of the film have stated that the film depicts the story of two friends who set out to eradicate social evils like land-grabbing and witchcraft by proving that true strength lies in knowledge. The premise is that even after 76 years of independence from British rule, superstition and ignorance persist in parts of India, especially among tribal populations.
The film was shot last year in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district. Previews for the film were released on online platforms like YouTube in November 2024. Since then, concern over the film’s framing of Christianity has grown. The Christian community of Kandhamal district reportedly wrote to Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to stop the film’s release.
The National United Christian Forum (NUCF), a forum of Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India, National Council of Churches in India, and Evangelical Fellowship of India released a statement condemning the film’s release.
“The film is apparently an attempt to perpetuate the false narrative, incite hatred and violence among the peaceful communities in the region,” the NUCF stated.
Pastor Simon Digal, from Kandhamal district, told ICC Christians and Hindus are fighting a digital war on social media over the film. Its influence on the ground is yet to be felt, he warned. — International Christian Concern
