Salman Khan's Battle of Galwan renamed Maatrubhumi after controversies over China's reaction; see new poster

On Monday, superstar Salman Khan officially announced the new name of his upcoming film as Maatrubhumi. The film was previously titled Battle of Galwan. The change arrives after days of controversy over China's reaction to the film.

Salman Khan's film renamed as Maatrubhumi

Unveiling the new poster of the film, now titled Maatrubhumi, Khan wrote on social media, “May War Rest In Peace. #Maatrubhumi.”

New poster

The poster features Salman Khan as a battle-worn soldier in an intense war setting. His face is seen covered with blood, dirt and wounds, setting the tone of the film. A deep cut on his forehead and bruises across his face are also spotted.

Staring directly into the camera with a fierce expression, Khan's bloodied hand grips a barbed-wire wrapped weapon. The dusty background, seemingly from a battlefield, features blurred silhouettes of soldiers.

Check it out:

The film had earlier released a song titled Maatrubhumi, sung by Arijit Singh.

Battle of Galwan plot

The Battle of Galwan is based on the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. According to PTI, Salman Khan in the Apoorva Lakhia film was set to play the role of Bikkumalla Santosh Babu, who sacrificed himself along with 19 other soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment to protect the Indian territory.

Bikkumalla Santosh Babu was posthumously honoured with India's second-highest wartime gallantry award, the Maha Vir Chakra.

Battle of Galwan controversy

After its teaser release on Salman Khan's 60th birthday, the film drew criticism from China's Global Times, which alleged it was a cinematic exaggeration. They accused the film of distorting facts.

A teaser of the film showed the Army officer (played by Khan) and a group of Indian soldiers charging at the PLA army members, running towards them. The song "Mera Bharat Desh Mahaan Hai" was heard playing in the background.

The teaser also featured a voice-over by Salman Khan, who said, “Soldiers, remember, if you get hurt, treat it like a medal and if you see death, salute it.”

India govt on Battle of Galwan

"India has a tradition of cinematic expression. A movie titled 'Haqeeqat' was made in 1964, and the theme was the India-China war of 1962. Another film '120 Bahadur', was made recently on the legendary battle of Rezang La. Cinemas are an artistic expression, and India does not restrict it," a government source told PTI.

Later, the Ministry of External Affairs' spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We understand that a film of this nature is being planned. Issues regarding film-making in India, as you are well aware, are looked after by the relevant authorities. And as far as we are concerned, MEA has no role in this or such ventures.”

What happened at Galwan Valley

The military standoff in eastern Ladakh began in May 2020. Clashes at the Galwan Valley in June 2020 strained ties between India and China. PTI reported that 20 Indian Army personnel laid down their lives during the 15 June clash in the same year.

In February 2021, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes. However, many believe that the death toll on the Chinese side was much higher.