Latest news with #Rathee
News18
a day ago
- News18
‘Stay Home': Dhruv Rathee On Indian Content Creator's Misconduct With Woman
Last Updated: Dhruv Rathee's video on the Malik Swashbuckler row also spotlighted other incidents of Indian tourists misbehaving abroad. YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has strongly criticised Indian influencers who display inappropriate behaviour towards women or disregard basic civic norms while travelling abroad. His remarks come in the wake of the controversy surrounding Malik SD Khan, also known as Malik Swashbuckler, who faced widespread backlash videos in which he made offensive comments and behaved disrespectfully towards women in Turkey surfaced online. The situation escalated to the point where he was reportedly detained by Turkish authorities, sparking renewed debate about responsible conduct among Indian content creators and tourists overseas. 'Indian tourists are destroying India's reputation," wrote Rathee in a strongly worded post accompanying a video on Instagram. The video opens with a disturbing clip from one of Malik SD Khan's posts, where he shockingly asks viewers if he should intoxicate and assault a Turkish woman. As the reel continues, Rathee includes other clips showing Indian tourists behaving inappropriately and disrespecting locals abroad, highlighting a troubling pattern that he says is tarnishing the country's global image. In his video, the YouTuber also highlighted recent incidents involving Indian tourists behaving irresponsibly abroad, such as men being caught urinating in the sea in Thailand, and a tourist dangerously reaching out of his car to touch a lion during a safari. Calling out such reckless behaviour, Rathee urged content creators to stay home if they couldn't act with basic decency while travelling. 'Tameez nahi hai to ghar pe raho," he firmly stated, underscoring the damage such actions do to India's global image. Shared on June 4, the video has already racked up over 22.3 million views, sparking widespread conversation online. Viewers flooded the comments section, with many applauding Rathee for calling out inappropriate behaviour and urging content creators to act more responsibly while representing India abroad. A user raised a valid point, asking, 'As viewers, shouldn't we also take responsibility? Why do people even give views to such disgraceful content?" Another praised Rathee's honesty, writing, 'Bro is speaking facts." A comment read, '100% sahi hai bhai, ye jahil logon ki wajah se har country mein desh ka naam kharab ho raha hai," highlighting how such behaviour damages India's image worldwide. Another chimed in, 'You're absolutely right. Glad someone had the courage to speak up." The overall sentiment echoed frustration and support, with many calling for greater accountability, both from content creators and audiences alike.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Dhruv Rathee schools Indian tourists over ‘tameez' amid Malik Swashbuckler row: ‘Ghar pe raho'
Days after the Malik Swashbuckler row, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee schooled Indian tourists over basic civic sense and said their misconduct costs other travellers from the country their reputation in foreign countries. Malik Swashbuckler, whose real name is Malik SD Khan, faced severe backlash and was reportedly detained by Turkish authorities after videos showing him making derogatory and sexually explicit remarks about Turkish women surfaced online. In an Instagram Reel captioned, 'Indian Tourists are Destroying India's Reputation,' Rathee shared incidents showing Indian tourists being way out of line on their trips abroad. The video began with a snippet from Malik's controversial video where he asks his audience if he should get a Turkish woman drunk and rape her. Dhruv Rathee's video also featured an Indian man eve-teasing in Venice, a group of Indian men peeing in the sea in Thailand and a man leaning out to touch a lion during a safari, risking the lives of others with him. Calling out such tourists, including content creators, Rathee said they should not visit foreign countries if they cannot behave appropriately. 'Tameez nahi hai to ghar pe raho, bahar nikalne ki koi zaroorat nhi hai.' He also highlighted that this misdemeanour is costing indians their reputation abroad. 'Indian tourists badnaam ho rhe hai foreign desho me.' Rathee then asked netizens to name and shame such people online. Netizens were very angry about the Malik Swashbuckler row. They resonated with Rathee's video and said a 'rotten apple spoils the whole bunch'. 'Asli anti nationals to yehi log he jo bahar jake desh ko badnaam karre he,' a netizen said. Another added: 'We blame the West for how they see us. Maybe it's time we looked at ourselves and asked what we've become.' A netizen highlighted that 'Education sanskar nhi hai,' to which another added, 'This is so true. All of them have education but no civic sense, and after all, the effect of their misbehaviour finally comes on top of the expats living in these countries.' Social media users also highlighted that it is also a viewer's responsibility to reject distasteful content like that of Malik Swashbuckler. 'As viewers, people must also be responsible. Why does the public give views to such content?' A user highlighted that only those who do not have a passport take such incidents lightly. '99% of people who don't even have a passport treat all this casually. But the truth is — no country is truly happy to see Indians. This is the result of us taking everything lightly that's happening in our own country.'
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘Tameez nahi hai to ghar pe raho': Dhruv Rathee rips into Indian content creators amid Malik Swashbuckler row
Dhruv Rathee slammed Indian content creators who misbehave with women in foreign countries or have total disregard for civic sense while abroad. This came amid the Malik Swashbuckler row. Content creator Malik SD Khan faced severe backlash and was reportedly detained by Turkish authorities after videos showing him disrespecting women and making derogatory remarks about them surfaced online. 'Indian Tourists are Destroying India's Reputation,' Rathee wrote while posting a video. The clip starts with a snippet from one of Khan's videos where he asks his audience if he should get a Turkish woman drunk and rape her. As Rathee's video progresses, it shows other clips that capture Indians disrespecting foreigners. In his video, he also mentioned the incidents where a few Indian men were caught peeing in the sea in Thailand and the one where a tourist leaned out of his car to touch a lion during a safari - risking his life and that of others. Rathee called out such content creators and asked them not to visit foreign countries if they could not behave appropriately. 'Tameez nahi hai to ghar pe raho,' he continued. A post shared by Dhruv Rathee (@dhruvrathee) An individual questioned, 'As viewers, people must also be responsible. Why does the public give views to such content?' Another remarked, 'Bro, speaking fact.' A third expressed, '100% sahi hai Bhai ye jahil logo ki wajaha se desh ka naam kharab hai har country me (It's so true; because of these people, Indians are getting slammed in every country).' A fourth wrote, 'You are so right.' He is an Indian YouTuber and vlogger currently based in Berlin, Germany. His videos often address political, social, and environmental issues, and many question the Indian government's policies. Born in Haryana, Rathee completed his mechanical engineering in Germany. He is married to Juli Lbr-Rathee, and the couple welcomed their 'little baby boy' in 2024. In addition to his own YouTube channel, he runs a separate vlog with his wife, where the couple captures their travel adventures.
The Print
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee takes down video after backlash over AI depiction of Sikh guru
Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and the last Guru of the Sikhs while Banda Singh Bahadur—a Hindu who converted to Sikhism under the tutelage of Guru Gobind Singh, rose to become a warrior who fought the Mughals. Any portrayal of Sikh gurus and their family members is banned by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Chandigarh: Following a severe backlash from Sikh bodies, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has pulled down his latest video depicting the lives of Guru Gobind Singh and Banda Singh Bahadur through AI-generated animation. In a message put out on his channel, which has over 28.6 million followers, Rathee said Monday that he was withdrawing the video as he did not want the matter to turn into a political or religious controversy. 'Thank you for your feedback on the latest video. Even though many of you appreciated the video and would like it to stay on the channel, I have decided to remove it because some viewers feel strongly that any animated depiction of the Sikh gurus conflicts with their beliefs. I do not want this to become a political or religious controversy, because the video was simply an effort to showcase the stories of our Indian heroes in a new educational format,' the post said. In the 25-minute video, Rathee has depicted the early life of Guru Gobind Singh after his father Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by the Mughals. He goes on to narrate the life of the guru and his battles with the Mughals in which he lost his four sons. The second half of the video is on the life of Banda Singh Bahadur. The video is AI-generated animation with Rathee foreground. Rathee also used the video to advertise his workshop that teaches AI tools to those interested in making similar videos. The SGPC had in 2003 passed a resolution against actors playing Sikh gurus, which was later extended to animated depictions by a sub-committee in 2019. In 2022, the SGPC had sought a ban on the release of Punjabi film Dastaan-E-Sirhind. The part-animated, part-live action film depicted the lives of the four sahibzadas (the sons of Guru Gobind Singh). The film is yet to be released. The Akal Takht—the highest temporal body of the Sikhs—banned the Punjabi film Nanak Shah Fakir on similar grounds in 2018. In 2019, another film, Dastaan-E-Miri Piri, ran into trouble over the alleged portrayal of Sikh gurus. A sub-committee of the SGPC eventually allowed its release on the condition that all references to a character personifying Guru Hargobind Singh, the sixth guru, be removed. The SGPC had in 2014 allowed the making of an animated film on the lives of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh. It was widely criticised over its decision to acquire the rights to the film for Rs 4 crore. In 2016, the SGPC allowed the film to be screened on government vans across Punjab as part of the then Akali Dal government's publicity campaign. ThePrint reached Rathee for a comment via email. This report will be updated if and when a response is received. 'Inaccuracies' Experts have claimed there are errors in Rathee's video when it comes to facts and Sikh maryada (code of conduct). 'To show panj piaaras with kalghis on their heads has never happened. Kalghis were adornments only for the Guru's headgears. To show the young Guru Gobind Singh ji crying following the death of his father is not appropriate. Amrit is prepared using patashas, not sugar,' said Professor Amarjit Singh from the Centre on Studies in Shri Guru Granth Sahib at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He added: 'Even the period related to Banda Singh Bahadur has mistakes in the chronology of events. The role played by Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah for instance, the battle of Lohgarh etc has been shoddily depicted. The war flags have been shown in green colour which is not the colour of Sikhs, but of jihadis. Guru Granth Sahib is considered to be a living Guru of the Sikhs and cannot be referred to as a book.' The professor said that even if the 'mistakes were unintentional', Rathee should have done better research when dealing with such a sensitive subject. Even when films are made on Sikh generals, the SGPC, professor Singh said, insists that the actor portraying the character of the Sikh general should be a sabat surat (a Sikh who has not shorn his hair), and absorb the true essence of a Sikh before playing the role. The professor said the SGPC also should come out with clear guidelines and a set of do's and don'ts for filmmakers undertaking projects on Sikh religion. 'Even filmmakers with good intentions tend to confuse the Sikh way of life with the Punjabi way of life which are completely different.' 'This is something which was discussed way back in 2000 during a meeting of the Dharam Parchar Committee (of SGPC) of which I was also a part. But nothing much has come out since then,' he said. 'SGPC has to respect sentiments' Professor Dharam Singh, formerly with Punjabi University, Patiala, who had authored the Encyclopedia of Sikhism, told ThePrint that the SGPC had become overly strict in extending the ban of not allowing personification of the Sikh gurus and their families. 'The SGPC had itself promoted in a big way the animated film on the chaar sahibzaade. It led to educating youngsters about the sacrifices of the Sikh gurus. However, over the years as more and more Sikhs are objecting to the depiction of the gurus' families, the SGPC has to respect that feeling,' said professor Singh. The principal objection to a human being representing the guru in a film is that someone who plays him cannot be like him. 'He will be an actor who will go on to play other roles as well. Hence the complete ban on an actor playing the Guru is absolutely justified,' he added. On Monday, the SGPC, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP had demanded an immediate takedown of the video and criminal action against Rathee. 'Such portrayals violate Sikh principles and traditions…This YouTuber has acted against the tenets of Sikhism,' said SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami in a press statement. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said, 'Such portrayals violate Sikh 'rehat maryada' which prohibits visual representations of Guru Sahiban. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of the community.' He also alleged that the 'misleading narrative' in Rathee's video titled 'The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals', and the want of respectful language, has further aggravated the issue. In a post on X, Badal urged all content creators to exercise utmost caution and sensitivity while dealing with Guru Sahiban or Sikh history. Delhi cabinet minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said a complaint had been forwarded by the DSGMC to the police. DSGMC files a complaint with Cyber Crime Cell against Dhruv Rathee for his video that spreads historical inaccuracies and distorts key facts about Sikh history; particularly the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the legacy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji. Such… — Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) May 19, 2025 DSGMC chief HS Kalka said the video spreads historical inaccuracies and distorts key facts about Sikh history, 'particularly the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the legacy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji'. 'Such misrepresentations are misleading, disrespectful, and unacceptable,' he added. DSGMC strongly condemns YouTuber Dhruv Rathee's video titled 'The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals', in which he has irresponsibly used AI-generated visuals to depict the revered Sikh Gurus. This act is not only culturally insensitive but deeply offensive to Sikh sentiments… — Harmeet Singh Kalka (@hskalka) May 19, 2025 (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: Travel vlogger to political 'influencer' — how Dhruv Rathee is adding to ringside frenzy this election
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Dhruv Rathee pulls down YouTube video after AI visuals of Sikh gurus spark backlash
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Monday removed his AI-generated video titled "The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals" following strong objections from the Akal Takht, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The video was widely condemned for depicting Sikh gurus in human form, which the SGPC and SAD said is inappropriate, stating that 'Sikh gurus should not be represented in human form or films.' In an Instagram post, Dhruv Rathee explained that despite positive feedback on his video, he chose to take it down as 'some viewers feel strongly that any animated depiction of the Sikh Gurus conflicts with their beliefs.' Also Read | First meeting held on AI's impact on India's copyright framework He added, 'I do not want this to become a political or religious controversy, because the video was simply an effort to showcase the stories of our Indian heroes in a new educational format.' Meanwhile, Delhi cabinet minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised Rathee's video on Sikh history, calling it 'disrespectful' and 'an attempt at distorting the legacy of Sikh gurus and martyrs.' SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said, 'Such portrayals violate Sikh principles and traditions. In Sikhi, the gurus, Sahibzadas, and their families cannot be represented in human form or in films. Therefore, this YouTuber has acted against the tenets of Sikhism.' He added that the history of Sikh gurus is sacred and should not be distorted, warning of legal action if the video wasn't removed. Also Read | Duolingo CEO says AI will handle most education, schools may become 'childcare centres' SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said, 'Such portrayals violate Sikh 'rehat maryada' which prohibits visual representations of Guru Sahiban. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of the community.' He also criticised the 'misleading narrative' and the 'want of respectful language' in Rathee's video. In a post on X, he urged content creators to respect Sikh history and traditions, saying, 'Respect for religious traditions and accurate historical representation are non-negotiable. I request the immediate removal of the offending content and call for responsible storytelling that honours the sacred legacy of Sikhism.' Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, said Rathee had 'insulted' Sikh traditions and sentiments by posting the video. 'Sikh principles prohibit visual representation or animation of the gurus, the Sahibzadas, members of the guru's family, and Sikh martyrs,' he said, demanding the video be removed without delay The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell, calling for action against Dhruv Rathee and a review of his YouTube channel. DSGMC President Harmeet Singh Kalka said the video distorts facts related to the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji and the legacy of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Ji, while also using AI-generated images of Sikh gurus, which is strictly forbidden in Sikhism. Also Read | Organic intelligence in the time of artificial intelligence In its complaint, the DSGMC stated, "Such unauthorised portrayals are a grave violation of Sikh religious principles and demonstrate a blatant disregard for our spiritual values. Presenting half-truths under the guise of historical storytelling misguides the public and offends the sentiments of millions." The committee raised concerns over Rathee's platform's reach, saying that with more than 10 million subscribers, his channel can rapidly spread misinformation. It asked authorities to address the issue as soon as possible. (with PTI inputs)
