It was announced on Monday afternoon that Salman Khan’s upcoming war-drama Battle of Galwan, set around the 2020-21 India-China border skirmishes has had a title change and will now be called Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace. Earlier reports had stated that the film has landed in trouble over anti-China sentiments. A new poster bore the revised title and now, in a recent report, director Apoorva Lakhia explained the reasoning behind the name change.
Speaking to HT City, he said, “Changing the title may feel sudden to SK sir’s fans, but it was never an overnight decision. From the start, we had registered two titles – Battle of Galwan and Maatrubhumi. As we went through the journey of making our film, we realised it was never just about a battle. At its heart, the film is about humanity, empathy, and the silent battles our soldiers fight.”
He further elaborated, “Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace captures that emotion and sacrifice far more truthfully. It reflects the soul of the story, preserving humanity even in the face of conflict. There’s also a song in the film by the same name, and the love it has received from audiences made the title feel even more right.”
However, some reports suggest that the name change may be linked to the sensitive diplomatic context surrounding India and China. A Bollywood Hungama report quoted a source saying: “Salman Khan was advised in certain official and strategic quarters to not only rethink the title of the film, but also tone down the anti-China portions. Taking that feedback seriously, Salman chose to align the film with the larger national mood and preserve the broader sensitivity of the subject. As a result, the title was changed and a substantial portion was reworked, with the conflict being fictionalised.”
The source added that the changes required portions of the film to be shot again, which drove up the production costs, though Salman reportedly remained unconcerned about the higher spending.
“A significant part of the script has been rewritten to reshape the film into a more emotionally charged patriotic saga. The changes also came after inputs from relevant quarters, and the new version is said to explore a more intimate dynamic between Salman Khan and Chitrangda’s characters. At its heart now, it is the story of an army officer balancing love amid conflict in many ways, this is the real Love & War,” the source added.
While the new title aims to convey a strong anti-war message amid rising global tensions, the film had previously sparked controversy. In December last year, sections of Chinese media criticised the teaser, alleging that it “distorted facts” surrounding the Galwan Valley clash.