Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly praised the controversial film “The Sabarmati Report,” stating that it reveals the truth about one of India’s most tragic incidents—the 2002 Godhra train burning. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi said, “Well said. It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way common people can see it. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!”
The Prime Minister’s endorsement of the Vikrant Massey-starrer has sparked nationwide conversations about the power of cinema to challenge established narratives and bring historical events back into public discourse.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts: ‘The Sabarmati Report’ at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Film Title | The Sabarmati Report |
| Release Date | November 15, 2024 |
| Director | Dheeraj Sarna (replaced Ranjan Chandel) |
| Lead Cast | Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, Riddhi Dogra |
| Producers | Balaji Motion Pictures, Vikir Films Production |
| Distributor | Zee Studios |
| CBFC Rating | U/A (126.51 minutes runtime) |
| OTT Release | ZEE5 (January 10, 2025) |
| Based On | Godhra train burning incident (February 27, 2002) |
| Opening Day Collection | ₹1.69 crore |
The Godhra Tragedy: What Happened on February 27, 2002
On the morning of February 27, 2002, the Sabarmati Express arrived at Godhra railway station in Gujarat at its scheduled timing. The train, running from Muzaffarpur in Bihar to Ahmedabad, carried hundreds of passengers, including a significant number of karsevaks—Hindu volunteers returning from a religious gathering in Ayodhya.
As the train departed from Godhra, the driver reported that emergency chains were pulled multiple times, causing the train to halt near the station’s outer signal. What followed was an attack: a mob, reportedly numbering around 2,000 people, pelted stones at the train and set four of its coaches on fire.
The Tragic Toll: 59 people, including women and children, lost their lives in the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express. The incident triggered communal riots across Gujarat that lasted for weeks, resulting in significant loss of life and property.
Legal Outcome: In February 2011, 31 people were convicted in the Godhra train burning incident, charged with criminal conspiracy and murder. Initially, 11 were sentenced to death and 20 to life imprisonment. In 2017, the Gujarat High Court commuted the death sentences to life terms, and all 31 received life imprisonment.
For more insights into Indian cinema’s role in shaping historical narratives, visit TechnoSports.
The Film’s Narrative: A Journalist’s Quest for Truth
“The Sabarmati Report” follows Samar Kumar, an entertainment journalist for EBT News, who is unexpectedly assigned to cover the aftermath of the Godhra train burning incident alongside senior anchor Manika Rajpurohit.
Initially treating the assignment with indifference, Samar becomes deeply affected after witnessing the tragic scene at the Godhra railway station. Through his investigation, Samar gathers evidence that challenges the prevailing narrative of the fire being accidental, suggesting instead that it was a planned act of violence.
However, his efforts to broadcast the truth are thwarted by his news organization, which suppresses his findings to align with political interests. Facing professional and personal ruin, Samar is forced out of his job and marginalized within the media industry.
Years later, Amrita Gill, a young investigative journalist, approaches a disillusioned Samar with renewed interest in exposing the truth behind the tragedy. Together, they confront political pressures and public skepticism in their pursuit of justice for the victims.
PM Modi’s Response and Political Context
PM Modi made these remarks while quoting a review post of the movie, which hailed the picturization and accredited the movie as ‘a must watch’. The Prime Minister was Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time of the Godhra incident.
The user whose post PM Modi reshared, Alok Bhatt, praised the film for bringing out “the important truth of one of the most shameful events in our recent history.” Bhatt added, “On a larger point, it is worth introspection for all of us as to how the brutal burning of passengers of the Sabarmati Express was turned into a political minefield by a vested interest group, who saw it as a means to tarnish the image of one leader.”
Film Team’s Response: Vikrant Massey thanked PM Modi for praising the film, saying his “positive words” had encouraged the team. Producer Ekta Kapoor also shared her gratitude, emphasizing how PM Modi’s appreciation was a significant boost for the film’s team.
Explore more Bollywood news and film industry updates at TechnoSports.
Themes Explored: Media, Truth, and Linguistic Hierarchies
The Sabarmati Report explores several interrelated themes, including the marginalization of Hindi-language journalism, editorial bias, political influence in media, and the tension between journalistic truth-seeking and propagandistic messaging.
Central Theme: One of the central themes is the portrayal of vernacular (Hindi-language) journalism as being sidelined in favor of English-language media. The film positions its protagonist, Samar Kumar, a Hindi-language journalist, as someone whose attempts to report the truth are routinely obstructed or dismissed by the editorial establishment.
This dichotomy underscores how linguistic hierarchies affect credibility and visibility in Indian newsrooms—a narrative that resonates with debates about elitism in Indian media.
Critical Reception: Mixed Reviews
The Sabarmati Report received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and became a box-office bomb, earning ₹1.69 crore on its opening day.
Critics’ Perspectives:
Zinia Bandyopadhyay from India Today gave the film 2 stars out of 5, calling it an honest attempt at looking at the Godhra tragedy but felt it got marred with several issues being put into it—including the entire vernacular vs English journalists angle, which sometimes overshadowed the tragedy.
Bollywood Hungama gave the film 1.5 stars out of 5, praising the lead performances, cinematography, background score, and production design, while criticizing its “haphazard execution” and loose ends in the script.
Sukanya Verma gave the film 1 star out of 5, remarking it spent all its time pointing fingers at one side and entirely absolving another, comparing it unfavorably to films such as Parzania and Firaaq, which she felt sensitively attempted to depict the trauma caused by the tragedy.
Despite critical reservations, the film has sparked important conversations about media bias, historical narratives, and the role of cinema in political discourse.
Vikrant Massey Faces Threats Over Role
Vikrant Massey, in an interview, opened up about difficulties faced during the making and release of the film. He shared, “I have been receiving threats. Without drawing attention to it, it is something which I am dealing with and we, as a team, collectively are dealing with.”
Despite these challenges, Massey emphasized that the team’s focus remains on bringing the story to the public. His commitment to the project highlights the contentious nature of films that tackle politically sensitive historical events.
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Production Journey: Delays and Censorship
The film was initially planned for theatrical release on May 3, 2024, then later pushed to August 2, 2024, due to censor issues and Ranjan Chandel’s (maker of the film) sudden quitting. After multiple issues and delays, The Sabarmati Report was theatrically released on November 15, 2024.
CBFC Certification: The Central Board of Film Certification issued ‘The Sabarmati Report’ a U/A certificate with few cuts including strong violent scenes, few muted words, and alterations.
Parliamentary Screening: Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the film at the Parliament Library building in Delhi, along with several members of the Cabinet and members of Parliament.
Comparisons to Other Political Films
PM Modi has consistently supported films addressing historical and social issues. He mentioned The Kerala Story while campaigning in Karnataka, lauding it for exposing the societal consequences of terrorism. He also praised The Kashmir Files for bringing suppressed narratives to light.
These endorsements reflect a pattern where PM Modi has used his platform to amplify films that challenge what he terms as “fake narratives” perpetuated by certain political and media groups.
OTT Release and Accessibility
The film premiered on ZEE5 from January 10, 2025, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond theatrical screenings. This digital release has reignited discussions about the incident and the film’s interpretation of events.
For streaming recommendations and OTT platform guides, visit TechnoSports.
The Broader Debate: Cinema and Historical Truth
The controversy surrounding “The Sabarmati Report” raises fundamental questions about cinema’s role in representing historical events:
✅ Artistic Freedom vs. Historical Accuracy: Should filmmakers prioritize factual precision or dramatic narrative?
✅ Political Influence: Can films about politically sensitive events ever be truly neutral?
✅ Media Representation: How do linguistic and cultural biases shape news coverage?
✅ Public Discourse: Do such films foster healthy debate or deepen societal divisions?
A Supreme Court-appointed investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing by PM Modi, who was Chief Minister of Gujarat when riots broke out in 2002. However, the Godhra train fire and subsequent Gujarat riots remain deeply contested historical events with ongoing political implications.
Where to Watch
“The Sabarmati Report” is currently streaming on ZEE5, available for subscribers. The film can also be watched on select DTH platforms through ZEE5 integration.
For official information about the film, visit the ZEE5 platform or check your local cinema listings for theatrical screenings.
FAQs
Q1: What is “The Sabarmati Report” about, and why did PM Modi praise it?
“The Sabarmati Report” is a 2024 Hindi political drama starring Vikrant Massey that depicts the February 27, 2002, Godhra train burning incident where 59 people, including women and children, were killed aboard the Sabarmati Express in Gujarat. The film follows journalist Samar Kumar’s investigation into the tragedy, portraying his struggle against media bias and political pressures to reveal what the film presents as the true nature of the incident—that it was a planned attack rather than an accident. PM Modi praised the film on November 17, 2024, saying “It is good that this truth is coming out, and that too in a way common people can see it. A fake narrative can persist only for a limited period of time. Eventually, the facts will always come out!” His endorsement sparked nationwide debate, as he was Gujarat’s Chief Minister when the incident occurred. The film released theatrically on November 15, 2024, and began streaming on ZEE5 from January 10, 2025, directed by Dheeraj Sarna and co-starring Raashii Khanna and Riddhi Dogra.
Q2: What was the critical and commercial reception of “The Sabarmati Report”?
“The Sabarmati Report” received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and became a box-office disappointment, earning only ₹1.69 crore on its opening day despite releasing nationwide on November 15, 2024. India Today gave it 2 out of 5 stars, calling it an “honest attempt” but criticizing the vernacular vs. English journalists angle that overshadowed the tragedy. Bollywood Hungama awarded 1.5 stars, praising performances, cinematography, and production design while criticizing “haphazard execution” and script issues. Film critic Sukanya Verma gave just 1 star, stating it spent time “pointing fingers at one side and entirely absolving another,” comparing it unfavorably to more nuanced films like Parzania and Firaaq. However, the film received strong support from PM Modi and several political figures, with producer Ekta Kapoor thanking the Prime Minister for boosting team morale. Lead actor Vikrant Massey revealed facing threats for his role, highlighting the film’s controversial nature. The CBFC granted it a U/A certificate with cuts to violent scenes and muted words, resulting in a 126.51-minute runtime. Despite critical reservations and commercial failure, the film has sparked important conversations about media representation, historical narratives, and the role of Hindi-language journalism in India.
