May 8, 2025: Within hours of India’s surgical precision strikes under Operation Sindoor—targeting nine terror hideouts deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK)—a frenzy broke out in the Indian film industry as producers rushed to claim the rights to what could be the next big patriotic blockbuster title.
Sources reveal that the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has received 12 applications, the Western India Film Producers Association (WIFPA) 2, and the Producers’ Guild of India 10 for the title ‘Operation Sindoor’, all within hours of the military action making headlines.
The rush is unsurprising in an industry where real-life military operations such as Uri and Shershaah have translated into major commercial and critical successes.
Title Scramble: The Race Begins
Producer and IMPPA member Ashoke Pandit, one of the earliest applicants, explains the process:
“The time you register your title gets officially stamped. The respective film bodies then compare timestamps and exchange letters to determine who filed first. The final result is typically announced at the next joint meeting of the four producers’ bodies.”
The official confirmation of title ownership comes only after this inter-body consensus, which includes IMPPA, WIFPA, IFTPC, and Producers Guild of India.
A Woman-Led War Drama?
Mumbai-based filmmaker Vishal Sarroye is among those who have applied for the title. For him, the name resonated deeply.
“When I saw the name Operation Sindoor on TV, I instantly felt its emotional weight—humari behno ka sindoor le liya. I want to tell this story from a woman’s point of view.”
Sarroye says he is working on a script that highlights the role of women in the mission, inspired by the presence of Col Sofia Quraishi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who were seen briefing the nation. He has applied for rights across all formats — film, web series, and multiple languages.
Ethical Debate in Filmmaking
While the rush for title registration underscores the potential commercial appeal of such content, some in the industry urge restraint.
JD Majethia, Chairman of the Television & Web Wing of the Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), confirmed receiving several applications — not just for Operation Sindoor, but also Mission Pahalgam, which refers to the recent terror attack that prompted the military response.
“I strongly believe making films on military operations like these is not always a good idea,” he cautioned.
Majethia’s concerns likely stem from issues around sensationalism, sensitive national security matters, and premature dramatization before all facts are publicly known.
With the title up for grabs and creative interpretations already brewing, the cinematic retelling of Operation Sindoor seems inevitable. But the question remains: who will be first to bring this real-life drama to the big screen — and how responsibly will they tell it?