Now Reading: Fadnavis launches Prahaar trailer, hails Nikam’s 26/11 prosecution
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Fadnavis launches Prahaar trailer, hails Nikam’s 26/11 prosecution
The Story in Brief
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the trailer of 'Prahaar: The Untold Story of Ujjwal Nikam' at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Tuesday, 29 September. The film, starring Rajkummar Rao as veteran public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, is set for release on 16 October.
Fadnavis said the film carries a message beyond entertainment, crediting Nikam with exposing Pakistan's role in the 26/11 attacks during the trial of Ajmal Kasab. He recalled police officers killed in the attacks, including Hemant Karkare and Ashok Kamte. The film is produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films and directed by Avinash Arun.
Several sources report the trailer was launched on Tuesday, 29 September, while Cinemaexpress says Monday, 28 September. Bollywood Hungama has also released a music video for the track 'Mere Rehte' by Vishal Mishra.
Update, 2 October 2026: Bollywood Hungama reports the release of a music video for 'Mere Rehte' from Prahaar, composed by Vishal Mishra. The Indian Express details the trailer's depiction of Kasab's claim to be 17 years old. Hindustan Times adds that Nikam continues to prosecute the 26/11 case against absconding accused, nearly 18 years after the attacks.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Coverage of the Prahaar trailer launch is almost uniformly straight reporting, with seven of nine outlets presenting Fadnavis's remarks and film details without editorial framing. The only exception is Rediff, which questions the choice of a busy railway station as venue and flags what it calls the irony of playing Muhammad Iqbal's 'Sare Jahan Se Achcha' at an event focused on Pakistan's role in the attacks. No outlet challenges Fadnavis's characterisation of the Kasab trial or the film's patriotic messaging. The uniform reporting leaves the political framing of the event, Fadnavis linking the film to the 26/11 prosecution, unexamined across mainstream coverage.
Coverage: 9 sources, 1 government-critical, 8 neutral
Sources (9): hindustantimes.com (neutral report), bollywoodhungama.com (neutral report), bollywoodhungama.com (2) (neutral report), cinemaexpress.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), rediff.com (government critical), bollywoodhungama.com (3) (neutral report), indianexpress.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (2) (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 9 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
