Created, Written and Directed by Mayank Jain
Created, Written and Directed by Mayank Jain
Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter: A Bold Sequel Unmasking the Perils of Totalitarian Ideologies
New Delhi, April 13, 2025 — Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter, a riveting 105-minute feature film by acclaimed filmmaker Mayank Jain, emerges as a powerful and timely sequel to the 2005 documentary Bangla Crescent — ISI, Madrasas & Infiltration. The original film, launched by senior IPS officers Late Shri KPS Gill, Prakash Singh and Late Shri R.K. Ohri, was a path-breaking exposé of indoctrination and infiltration in the Indian subcontinent.
🎙 Interview with Shri Neeraj Atri
Channel: Neeraj Atri Official (YouTube)
In this thought-provoking conversation, renowned nationalist thinker and educationist Shri Neeraj Atri engages with the creator of Crimson Crescent – The Last Quarter on the urgent need to confront ideological extremism with intellectual clarity and historical evidence. The interview sheds light on the film’s core themes—madrassa radicalization, infiltration and the hope for a renaissance in the Islamic world.
🎙 Interview with Shri Vibhuti Jha
Channel: Jaipur Dialogues USA (YouTube)
Title: Internet & AI vs Radicalism – A Rational Revolution Begins
Filmed during the crucial run-up to the film’s release, this engaging discussion with Shri Vibhuti Jha dives into how digital tools—AI and the internet—are accelerating ideological shifts within radical Islam. The filmmaker shares bold insights on what inspired Crimson Crescent and how global awakening may be unfolding quietly but surely.
New Delhi, April 13, 2025 — Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter, a riveting 105-minute feature film by acclaimed filmmaker Mayank Jain, emerges as a powerful and timely sequel to the 2005 documentary Bangla Crescent — ISI, Madrasas & Infiltration. The original film, launched by senior IPS officers Late Shri KPS Gill, Prakash Singh and Late Shri R.K. Ohri, was a path-breaking exposé of indoctrination and infiltration in the Indian subcontinent.
Twenty-five years later, Crimson Crescent arrives with undiminished urgency. What’s tragic the film argues is that these 25 years have been largely wasted. Infiltration has not ceased. Indoctrination through madrasas has not slowed. And most alarmingly, the threats identified in Bangla Crescent -- ISI, madrasas & Infiltration have only metastasised—spreading far beyond borders.
A Global Canvas: From South Asia to Europe and the Middle East
While Bangla Crescent-- ISI, madrasas & Infiltration focused sharply on Bangladesh and Pakistan’s role in radicalisation and infiltration, Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter greatly expands its scope. The film explores the rising aggression in many European countries grappling with mass immigration from Middle Eastern, African and Pakistani regions. It captures the social unrest, ideological clashes and erosion of public safety emerging from these demographic and cultural shifts.
The documentary also covers the volatile Middle East, diving into the complex dynamics of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria and Israel. Here it examines not only the geopolitics but also the internal ideological conflicts and state-sponsored radical narratives that continue to destabilise the region.
Crimson Crescent draws a provocative and compelling parallel between three major ideological threats of the past and present: Nazism, Communism and Jihadism. All three, the film argues, are driven by a thirst for absolute control and the destruction of dissent. Each has claimed millions of lives and eroded the moral foundations of societies they have touched.
Mayank Jain asserts that these ideologies thrive by silencing reason, glorifying violence and promoting absolute truth claims—often using religious or revolutionary fervour as a shield. The film is a cautionary tale of what happens when indoctrination replaces education and belief systems abandon dialogue in favour of dogma.
Indoctrination and the Danger of Absolute Truth
A central theme of the film is the insidious power of indoctrination through institutions like madrasas. It reveals how such education systems instil rigid ideological thinking, leading to intolerance, polarisation and often violent radicalisation. The film critiques societies that fail to challenge these systems and instead allow radical narratives to flourish in the name of tradition or religious freedom.
Muslims as Victims of Islamist Terror
A lesser-acknowledged but crucial aspect the film highlights is that Muslims themselves are often the first victims of Islamist extremism. From Shia Muslims targeted in Pakistan to the marginalisation and persecution of other minority Muslim sects, Crimson Crescent explores the deep fractures within the Muslim world—fractures that extremists exploit for power not faith.
A Ray of Hope: Reform Within Islam
Amidst the bleak landscape, Crimson Crescent also offers hope. It recognises the growing internal reform movements within radical Islam where bold voices from within the community are challenging violence and calling for moderation. The film uplifts these efforts, urging both policymakers and civil society to support peaceful reformers rather than extremists.
“Reason is humanity’s shield against ideological tyranny,” says Jain, reinforcing the film’s core message: that education, critical thinking and open dialogue are the only long-term antidotes to radicalisation.
A Call to Action: Resist Absolutism, Embrace Dialogue
This is not just a documentary, 'Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter', is a call to action. It appeals to governments, communities and individuals to resist the growing appeal of absolutism and divisive ideologies. It advocates for education policies that foster rational thought and for a cultural shift toward intellectual freedom and unity.
About the Filmmaker: Mayank Jain
Mayank Jain is a renowned filmmaker with over 27 years of experience and more than 50 critically acclaimed films to his credit. His work spans governance, national security, public health and social reform and is known for tackling complex issues with intellectual rigour and cinematic clarity.
He rose to national prominence with India Tomorrow – The Gujarat Miracle (2007), a documentary on Gujarat’s development model under Shri Narendra Modi, launched at BJP headquarters by Shri Rajnath Singh and Late Shri Arun Jaitley. As Content Head of NaMo TV during the 2012 Gujarat elections, he shaped political communication strategies with high-impact visuals.
Mayank’s portfolio includes politically resonant films like Gujarat Fast Track, Gujarat Tomorrow and No to Terror, as well as public health documentaries such as The Evidence—Meat Kills (2017), released by Smt. Maneka Gandhi and the Death Warrant series on Doordarshan, addressing issues like addiction, HIV/AIDS and medical malpractice.
His educational films for IGNOU and The Leprosy Mission, and his upcoming documentary on untouchability and caste unity reflect his ongoing commitment to truthful, socially driven cinema.
Mayank Jain is a distinguished Indian filmmaker and writer with over 25 years of experience, known for his fearless storytelling and socially conscious cinema. With more than 50 films to his credit, his work spans national security, public health, development, agriculture, and caste and social justice. Widely respected for both depth and integrity, his films have provoked thought, shaped dialogue, and earned acclaim in India and internationally.
Mr Jain rose to national prominence with his landmark 2005 documentary, The Bangla Crescent – ISI, Madrasas & Infiltration, an unflinching investigation into cross-border terrorism and internal threats. Released by three former IPS officers in New Delhi, it made a lasting impact on public and media discourse, establishing Mr Jain as a bold and credible voice in Indian documentary cinema.
His 2007 film, India Tomorrow – The Gujarat Miracle, further elevated his profile. Celebrated for its compelling portrayal of Gujarat’s development model and security policy under then Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the film was released by Shri Rajnath Singh and the late Shri Arun Jaitley. Garnering wide media coverage and over a million views globally, it helped India’s intelligentsia engage deeply with what would come to be known as the ‘Modi Model’ of governance.
Mr Jain has since produced a series of films exploring Gujarat’s development narrative, including Gujarat Fast Track, Gujarat Tomorrow, Team Gujarat, Gujarat Ahead, and No to Terror. He also served as Content Head of NaMo TV during the 2012 Gujarat elections.
Earlier, in 2004, he directed the acclaimed health series Death Warrant for Doordarshan, which tackled public health issues like substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, food adulteration, obesity, quackery, and more. In 2017, his documentary The Evidence – Meat Kills, launched by Smt Maneka Gandhi, sparked national dialogue on diet, ethics, and wellness.
His work with academic and humanitarian institutions includes documentaries for IGNOU, The Leprosy Mission, and PSBT — including Quacks – Doctors or Killers, which explored the dangers of unqualified medical practitioners. He also directed a film on the Hindi language for the Ministry of External Affairs.
Currently, Mr Jain is directing a documentary on caste unification and the social struggles of safai karmacharis (sanitation workers), aiming to offer a bold blueprint for long-overdue reform.
Mayank Jain – Writer. Director. Visionary.
Mayank Jain is a filmmaker driven by truth, compassion, and cinematic courage. With a unique ability to weave geopolitics, human narratives, and philosophical depth into visual storytelling, his work challenges convention and invites reflection.
A long-time advocate of nonviolence and rational discourse, Mayank channels his creative energy into stories that speak to the conscience. His films don't just entertain — they provoke, they heal, they awaken.
Crimson Crescent — The Last Quarter is his most ambitious project to date: a sweeping, visually arresting exploration of radicalism, faith, and the fragile hope for renaissance in a fractured world. Combining live footage, 3D animation, and special effects, the film is not just a story — it’s a movement.
Mayank Jain brings to the screen a rare blend of intellectual rigour and emotional resonance. Through his lens, cinema becomes not merely a mirror to society, but a force that dares to reshape it.