New Delhi: Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University is now a space for alternate movie viewing. It is now holding nationalist studies forums where films are screened and debates and discussions follow. On 4 July, students from various campuses across Delhi thronged the university’s Convention Centre to watch a special screening of the movie 72 Hoorain. Set to be released on 7 July, the film talks about the roots of Islamic terrorism with a focus on Fidayeens’ “ultimate goal” to meet 72 heavenly virgins after carrying out suicide attacks. The screening was organised by a study circle called Vivekananda Vichar Manch, with the aim “to create an alternative to the mainstream ideology prevalent across JNU”.

The event saw loud chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat mata ki jai’, with director Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan hailing the change of narrative.

Trailers of other movies and documentaries such as Sahebs: History of Subversion (2022) were also streamed. Evocation of the Army, Swami Vivekananda, Hindu god Mahadev, and Bajrang Dal created an atmosphere that was starkly nationalistic. Chauhan, along with the co-producers, including Ashoke Pandit, joined in, the collective chants echoing across the hall.

Pandit called the screening a “remarkable feat” and congratulated the students on ushering in a change in the narrative in JNU, which has been widely regarded as a Left-dominated academic space. A red screen was put up before the screening, and Pandit saw an opportunity to take a subtle dig: “Ye ladai laal ke khilaaf hi hai (This fight is against Red).”