MUMBAI, May 10— In the wake of India’s military operation in Pakistan dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Bollywood producers have rushed to claim film titles inspired by the mission, with more than 30 applications filed in just 48 hours, industry officials confirmed.
The airstrikes, launched early Wednesday against terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, came two weeks after the deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The operation has quickly captured the imagination of the Hindi film industry, with producers eager to bring the event to the big screen.
“The response has been massive,” said Anil Nagrath, Secretary of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA). “We’ve received over 30 emails applying for titles connected to Operation Sindoor. It could easily cross 50 or 60 soon.”
According to Nagrath, most applications are for titles like Operation Sindoor and Mission Sindoor, though other variations are pouring in. These include Hindustan Ka Sindoor, Mission Operation Sindoor, and Sindoor Ka Badla. Titles referencing the Pahalgam tragedy—such as Pahalgam: The Terror Attack and Pahalgam Attack—are also in demand.
“This isn’t unusual,” Nagrath added. “We’ve seen the same trend with previous events—Kargil, Uri, even the Kumbh Mela. Filmmakers are drawn to stories that resonate nationally.
This is something India is proud of, and producers want to put that emotion on screen.”
Three major industry bodies—IMPPA, the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), and the Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA)—are currently sorting through the flood of applications.
The titles will be granted based on a strict first-come-first-serve policy, officials say.
“One person can apply for multiple titles, but allocation is solely based on who submitted it first,” Nagrath explained. “There’s no favoritism. A joint committee from IMPPA, IFTPC, WIFPA, and the Producers Guild handles the process.”
The application fee stands at ₹300 plus GST, while urgent filings cost ₹3,000. Once granted, a producer has up to three years to begin work on a film using the title, or it is automatically withdrawn.
The current title frenzy echoes the post-2016 Uri strikes, which led to films like Uri: The Surgical Strike directed by Aditya Dhar. Sources say Dhar is among those who have now applied for new Sindoor-themed titles. Others reportedly in the mix include actors Suniel Shetty and filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar, Vivek Agnihotri, and Ashok Pandit, alongside production house T-Series.
Adding a corporate twist, it emerged Friday that Reliance Industries Limited was among six applicants to the Controller General of Patents Design and Trademarks to register “Operation Sindoor” under Class 41 of the Nice Classification.
That category covers entertainment services, digital media, live events, and publishing.
However, Reliance later retracted its application, stating it was “inadvertently filed by a junior employee without authorization.”
As the committee now sifts through the applications, the race to tell India’s most recent military story on screen is officially underway—driven by a blend of patriotism, commercial instincts, and cinematic ambition.
