India news: 'Suggestive' song row reaches parliament

We are closing the blog for today.

But our colleagues in DW's Delhi bureau will be back bright and early on Friday morning to bring you more of the main news from India.

See you then. Good night!

The Bollywood smash hit "Dhurandhar," a Hindi-language spy action thriller that has caused waves well beyond India, has even been watched by Finland's President Alexander Stubb.

The Finnish leader posted a video on his X account of him jogging in London's Hyde Park with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and their wives, Suzanne Innes-Stubb and Diana Carney.

During the video, Carney asks Stubb about his "Insta thing in India." Stubb replies, "It was huge after I said that I watched Dhurandhar, and then I realised it’s not a game at all."

"Dhurandhar," one of the highest-grossing Hindi movies of all time, has also met with significant backlash for its loose interpretation of real-world geopolitical events, with some critics considering it propagandistic.

It tells the story of an Indian intelligence agent infiltrating criminal groups and political bodies in Karachi, Pakistan, as part of a counter-terrorism operation to dismantle a terror network that aims to attack India.

The film was released in December last year amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, who fought a brief war following a terror attack at a tourist resort in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir in April.

Like all Bollywood productions, the film is banned in Pakistan, but it has also been banned from theatrical release in several Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The Finnish leader visited India this month to attend the Raisina Dialogue, a geopolitical conference in New Delhi.

The sequel, "Dhurandhar: The Revenge", was released on Thursday.

The uproar over a song with sexually suggestive lyrics shows no signs of abating, after a Muslim organisation in Uttar Pradesh issued a fatwa against actress Nora Fatehi on Thursday.

Fatehi, along with actor Sanjay Dutt, performs the song "Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke" in the yet-to-be-released film "KD: The Devil."

"Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke" is the Hindi version of a southern movie's song "Sarse Ninna Serage Sarse," written by Kannada director Prem.

The song, whose lyrics critics have described as "vulgar," has already been banned by the Indian government.

The actors, lyricist, producer and director of the film in question have also been summoned to appear before the National Commission for Women.

Now, the Muslim Personal Darul Ifta in the Uttar Pradesh city of Aligarh, some 137 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of the capital, Delhi, has issued a religious opinion (or fatwa) against Fatehi amid the growing backlash against the song, according to Indian broadcaster ANI.

Fatehi has distanced herself from the disputed version of the song in a video on social media, saying she had recorded it in a language that she does not speak and was unaware of the Hindi version's lyrics.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke Thursday to push for de-escalation in the Middle East after Iran struck regional energy infrastructure following Israeli and US attacks.

Modi wrote on X that he and Macron — whom he called "my dear friend" — had discussed "the urgent need for de-escalation" and a return to diplomacy.

Macron thanked the Indian leader, echoing the term of friendship, and added that "India and France are working closely together to reduce tensions in the region and to keep diplomacy at the heart of our efforts for peace."

That's the end of my workday in New Delhi!

My colleague from Bonn, Germany will take over the blog and keep you informed. I will see you bright and early tomorrow!

The second installation of a hit Indian movie 'Dhurandhar,' has moviegoers shaking with excitement. 

The spy thriller set in Pakistan follows the story of an Indian agent who has deeply entrenched himself in a Pakistani mafia gang which (in the movie) also plays a part in the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack. 

'Dhurandhar: The Revenge' is meant to see the protagonist break down Pakistan's terror network and avenge attacks on India. It is a whopping 3:55 hours long!

Reactions and reviews of the movie flooded social media, with most shows for the weekend sold out. Elements of the movie went viral on social media.

For one, a drink in the movie made out of milk and cola had viewers trying it out for themselves. As someone who grew up with the drink served at a popular eatery in my home town, the trend brought back nostalgic memories. 

Another bit that grabbed viewers' attention was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cameo. The movie reportedly shows video of him swearing to office in 2014 in and announcing the 2016 demonetization. 

The first part of the movie, which released in December 2025, was hugely popular but also drew criticism for allegedly indulging in pro-Modi propaganda. Set in years before the Prime Minister came to power, the movie has spy agency heads criticizing the then government for corruption and inaction. 

Indians were marginally happier in 2025, according to the World Happiness Report 2026, published on Thursday.

India rose two positions to 116th. It scored a 4.536 score of average life evaluation, measured out of 10, which takes into account factors such as community support, freedom and rise in purchasing power.

It was ahead of countries like Afghanistan, Lebanon, Egypt, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, but behind Ukraine, Pakistan and Nepal. 

India ranked 61 in terms of feeling free to do what one wants with their lives, and 60 in terms of people having positive emotions of laughter and enjoyment.

Here are the happiest countries by rank: 

• Finland
• Icealand
• Denmark
• Costa Rica
• Sweden
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Isarel
• Luxembourg
• Switzerland

The US stood at 23 while the UK stood at 29. 

In India, approximately four thousand five hundred underage girls are forcibly married every day.

This story follows a real-time child rescue operation in Tripura’s Sepahijala district, where police and child protection workers intervene to stop an underage marriage and protect a vulnerable girl. It begins with the rescue of a 14-year-old who had already been married off to an NRI groom and was threatened by her family to remain silent. 

Watch DW Bangla's coverage in the regional language: 

The Delhi High Court has directed the national capital's police to make adequate security arrangements in the western area of Uttam Nagar, in apprehention of communal violence on Eid.

The court has issued a notice to the police a sought a response on the situation, news agency ANI reported. It also directed the police to maintain arrangements till the upcoming Hindu Festival of Ram Navami on March 26.

On the Hindu festival of Holi, March 4, local discord broke out between a Hindu and Muslim family in Uttam Nagar, leading to the killing of a 26-year-old. The incident sparked protests from right-wing Hindu groups and has taken a communal turn.

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights, one of the organizations to file a petition in the Delhi court, flagged circulation of posters announcing that "Holi will be celebrated in Uttam Nagar on March 20," that is, on the day of Eid.

The Indian government has appointed Vikram Doraiswami as the next ambassador to China, marking its latest move in a wide-scale diplomatic reshuffle. 

Doraiswami, currently the High Commissioner of India to the UK, is expected to take up the assignment "shortly," the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

He will replace Pradeep Kumar Rawat.

Doraiswami has previously served as the private secretary to the Indian Prime Minister, India's Ambassador to South Korea and to Bangladesh.

India's move to send a senior diplomat to Beijing comes amid recent attempts to rebuild ties after territorial disputes along the shared border.

Relations between New Delhi and Beijing took a hit in 2020 due to a military stand-off in eastern Ladakh, a high-altitude region to India's north.

India and China also maintain cooperation on shared water resources. The Brahmaputra river, which originates from China as as the Yarlung Tsangpo, supplies freshwater to millions in northeastern India.

The Indian government on Thursday approved a short-term intervention program to support Indian exporters impacted by trade disruptions in the Middle East.

"The Government has approved a time-bound and targeted intervention called RELIEF," the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement, adding that exporters were facing higher insurance costs and war-related export risks.

An inter-ministerial group was brought into affect on March 2 to monitor issues with the supply chain and hold meetings with export associations.

Here's what the program includes:

• Additional risk coverage for consignments shipped between February 14 - March 15, and already have credit insurance from government-owned Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC)
• Additional risk coverage for consignments planned for next three months, which already have insurance from ECGC
• Partial reimbursement for companies which do not yet have ECGC credit insurance for their consignments
• It will apply to consignments either meant for or passing through countries in the region such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Israel, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran and Yemen

"The Government aims to mitigate the immediate impact of logistics disruptions, protect exporter confidence, prevent order cancellations and safeguard employment in export-linked sectors," the commerce ministry's statement read. 

With Eid two just days away, Delhi's residential area of Uttam Nagar is gripped under threats of communal violence over the killing of a 26-year-old.

A court in Delhi is set to hear petitions by civil groups on Thursday, seeking police security in the area on the Islamic festival of Eid.

What triggered the tensions?

On the Hindu festival of Holi, March 4, local discord broke out when a young Hindu girl is said to have accidentally thrown a water balloon towards a Muslim woman from the locality.

Later in the evening, a 26-year-old from the same Hindu family was attacked by a group of men. He died of his injuries in the hospital. 

As the incident took place between a Hindu and Muslim family, the matter has taken a communal turn.

Right-wing Hindu organizations staged protests against the accused while videos of Hindu religious leaders calling the Muslims 'jihadis' circled on social media. 

Barricades in Uttam Nagar

On Wednesday, a group of Indian lawmakers wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged threats to Muslims in Uttam Nagar. Indian media reported that the letter described a "highly alarming situation" where residents were facing "open threats" and a "systematic attempt to create fear."

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights, one of the organizations to file a petition in the Delhi court, flagged circulation of posters announcing that "Holi will be celebrated in Uttam Nagar on March 20," that is, on the day of Eid. 

"Such messaging, combined with provocative speeches, has created an atmosphere of fear among residents," the Organisation said in a statement, urging Delhi's police to act against hate speech and threats.

Local residents are now anxious about their safety, particularly regarding the ability to gather peacefully for prayers and celebrations," the statement read. 

The lanes of Uttam Nagar, generally busy and lined with shops selling sweets, toys, are now under heavy barricading. 

The chairman of India's biggest private bank has resigned over incompatible "ethics," the lender said in a notification to Indian stock exchanges. 

Atanu Chakraborty, part-time chairman of HDFC Bank, said: "Certain happenings and practices within the bank, that I have observed over last two years, are not in congruence with my personal values and ethics," without providing more details. 

Chakraborty was appointed in May 2021 for three years and then reappointed in 2024. His second term was set to end in May 2027. 

HDFC Bank is India's largest private-sector lender by assets and the second largest company on Indian exchanges by market capitalization. 

Shares of the bank fell over 4% on Thursday morning.

The Reserve Bank of India assured investors that there were no "material concerns" with the lender, as the resignation sparked concerns about internal governance.

HDFC Bank has "sound financials, professionally run board and competent management team," the central bank said in a statement on Thursday. 

"There are no material concerns on record as regards to its conduct or governance. The bank remains well-capitalized and the financial position of the bank remains satisfactory with sufficient liquidity," it said.

The Indian Navy is deploying additional warships to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman to ensure safe passage of its vessels carrying LPG and fuel, media reports said citing unnamed sources. 

Bloomberg News and Indian daily Hindustan Times both reported on the story. 

The deployment falls under 'Operation Sankalp,' which was launched in 2019 to safeguard Indian merchant shipping and fuel from the Gulf.

It comes as India  faces LPG shortages at home due to the constricted movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid the war in Iran.

About 65% of India's LPG is imported and 90% of that passed through the strait, India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said earlier in parliament. 

Millions of tonnes of LPG and crude oil are stuck on 22 Indian-flagged merchant ships in the Gulf, a Shipping Ministry spokesperson said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

India's Foreign Ministry previously said that it was in talks with Tehran to secure safe passage for the ships but there was no blanket agreement for them to pass the strait.

Three Indian vessels, two carrying LPG and one carrying crude, have returned to India from the Gulf this week.