Madhu Purnima Kishwar, a prominent academic and activist, has publicly criticized acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, alleging "Hindu hater" sentiments and questioning Nair's professional integrity and portrayal of communities in her films. The criticism, shared via a recent tweet, includes accusations that Nair changed her surname for "elitist" reasons and demonizes her own community for financial gain and to align with what Kishwar terms the "Woke Club."

In her detailed social media post, Kishwar stated, > "Mamdani's mother Meera Nair was my contemporary at Miranda House. She is from a wealthy Punjabi family which was driven out of the region that became Pakistan. And yet she is a true blooded Hindu hater!" Kishwar further claimed that Nair changed the spelling of her name from the Punjabi "Nayyar" to the "more elitist Kerala's Nairs." She also suggested Nair's marriage to academic Mahmood Mamdani indicates a high regard for "Mazhabeez," a term often used for converts.

Kishwar's critique extended to Nair's filmography and alleged projects. She recounted declining a proposal from Nair to make a commercial film based on Kishwar's reports on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, asserting that Nair had "scripted a crude love story around that national tragedy!" Kishwar also labeled Nair's critically acclaimed film "Salaam Bombay" as betraying her "crass commercial self." Other films, including "Monsoon Wedding" and "Mississippi Masala," were also singled out. Kishwar described "Monsoon Wedding" as a "crass caricature of Punjabi Hindus --her own community," and "Mississippi Masala" for depicting "all the Blacks are great guys with strong family values, whereas the Hindus in Africa are depicted as crude, loud mouthed, vulgar racists, without any sanskars.

While Madhu Kishwar has a documented history of publicly criticizing Mira Nair, particularly concerning her portrayal of communities and alleged anti-Hindu bias, public records and extensive film databases do not readily corroborate all of Kishwar's specific claims. Biographical information for Mira Nair indicates her birth in Rourkela, Orissa, to parents Amrit and Praveen Nair, without mention of a "Nayyar" to "Nair" name change. Furthermore, no widely publicized film project by Mira Nair related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots or any significant controversy involving her and "Kaun Banega Crorepati" could be found in public domain searches. "Mississippi Masala" has been discussed for its exploration of Indian immigrant experiences and racial identity, but Kishwar's specific characterization of its portrayal of Hindus is her interpretation. Mira Nair, an Indian-American filmmaker, is known for independent dramas and has received numerous accolades, including awards from the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals. She is married to Mahmood Mamdani, and their son, Zohran Mamdani, is a New York State Assemblyman.