New Delhi, India – Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani’s media company, Reliance’s Jio Studios, has withdrawn its application to trademark “Operation Sindoor,” the codename reportedly used for India’s recent military strikes on Pakistan, following public and political outrage on social media.
In a statement released late Thursday, Reliance Industries clarified that the application was filed “inadvertently” by a junior staff member at Jio Studios without proper authorization. The company emphasized that “Operation Sindoor” is now part of the national consciousness and serves as “an evocative symbol of Indian bravery.”
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The move comes just days after India announced it had launched strikes on what it called “terrorist infrastructure” in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The operation was in response to a deadly militant attack in Indian Kashmir that killed 26 men, mostly Hindu laborers. The name “Sindoor”—a sacred vermilion powder traditionally worn by married Hindu women—was interpreted by some as a reference to the widows left behind by the violence.
Public anger erupted after social media users shared screenshots from India’s official trademark registry showing applications filed by both Reliance and individuals for the term “Operation Sindoor.” Critics accused the conglomerate of seeking to commercialize a national tragedy.
“This isn’t branding, it’s blatant mockery,” posted user Archana Pawar on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s disturbing to see something so serious being reduced to a joke.”
India’s opposition Congress party also weighed in. Party spokesperson Aniruddh Sharma said the attempt to register a trademark linked to a military operation was “shameful,” adding, “Why is Mr. Ambani trying to profit from the sacrifices of our armed forces?”
The trademark application stated that it was intended for “provision of entertainment; production, presentation, and distribution of audio, video.” The backlash reflects growing sensitivities around the portrayal of military events in Indian popular media.
Indian cinema has a history of turning military operations into box office hits. The 2019 film Uri: The Surgical Strike, which dramatized India’s cross-border operation against militant targets in Pakistan, was a commercial success domestically and internationally.
Pakistan, however, has often disputed such claims. Following the 2019 incident, Islamabad denied any Indian incursion into its territory, and said there had been no military retaliation.
Reliance is a major player in India’s media landscape. Last year, the company merged its entertainment assets with Disney India to create an $8.5 billion media giant, running multiple television channels and a prominent streaming platform.
With tensions between India and Pakistan once again drawing global concern, the controversy over the attempted trademark underscores the delicate line between national pride and commercial exploitation.
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