The Kashmir Files and the ‘vulgar’ propaganda controversy | Anupam Kher says Nadav Lapid

The Kashmir Files Controversy

About the film The Kashmir Files

Vivek Agnihotri helmed the film The Kashmir Files. The film premiered in theatres on March 11, 2022. Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar, and Puneet Issar were among the stars. The plot of The Kashmir Files revolved around the 1990s exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.

The 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa ended on a controversial note when the head of the jury, Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, criticized Vivek Agnihotri’s film The Kashmir Files on stage, calling it “propaganda.”In his speech to the crowd, Nadav added, “We were, all of us, upset and shocked by the fifteenth film: The Kashmir Files. That seemed like propaganda to us, a crude picture that had no place in the artistic competition at a festival of this calibre. He went on to say that he has no reservations about being himself and expressing these sentiments publicly. Since a critical dialogue is necessary for art and for life, it is in keeping with the festival’s ethos to have it. Pramod Sawant, the chief minister of Goa, and several members of the Union government were there when Lapid made his statements. Cinemas across the country showed The Kashmir Files, a film directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, on March 11. The story focuses on the 1990 genocide and mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits out of the valley.

In India, the movie was considered a smashing success. Casting Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi as the film’s main characters, the movie was directed by Vivek Agnihotri. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are just two of the prominent politicians in India to publicly applaud the film for its performances and themes. The majority of states where the BJP is in power have also exempted the film from sales tax.

Party propaganda: BJP and Oppn argue about The Kashmir Files

The comment made by Israeli director Nadav Lapid about the contentious film The Kashmir Files has caused a political uproar. Many in the Opposition have commended Lapid for speaking the truth, while leaders from the ruling BJP have lashed out at him for using words like “vulgar” and “propaganda.”The International Film Festival of India (IFFI) requested Lapid to preside over the judging panel, and he expressed shock and dismay over the film’s participation in the competition.Sanjay Raut, a leader in the Shiv Sena, responded to Lapid’s comments on Tuesday, saying, “It’s true regarding Kashmir Files. One side spread falsehoods about the other. There was a lot of publicity activity at a party and in the government. Even though the majority of the deaths in Kashmir happened after the release of this movie, it did not cause the violence. Many people, including Kashmiri Pandits and security forces, lost their lives.

Regarding the debate over The Kashmir Files, Gulshan Devaiah said, “Everyone is eager to prove the other as the devil.”

• The Kashmir Files was deemed “vulgar” by Nadav Lapid at the 53rd International Film Festival of India in Goa.
• Now, Gulshan Devaiah has spoken out about the film’s criticisms.
• “Everyone is out to prove the other as the devil,” the actor says, expressing his opinion.

During an interview with IndiaToday.in, Gulshan addressed the criticism leveled at The Kashmir Files. “I’m sick of both ecosystems constantly smearing each other. It’s dull because it’s a never-ending cycle of mutually beneficial bullshit. Each side is eager to establish the other’s bad intentions. Everybody needs to stop talking and get some work done” the man explained.

Kashmir files: nadav speedy on the reports

At the same time, Nadav Lapid referred to The Kashmir Files as “vulgar” during the IFFI awards event. “We’re all feeling a bit unsettled right now. In our opinion, the film did not belong in the aesthetic competition segment of such a famous event because it was offensive and promoted political agendas. Since the festival’s ethos fully welcomes the critical discourse that is vital to the advancement of art and of life, I have no qualms about expressing these views publicly “Lapid remarked.

Vinod Ganatra, the film’s director, discusses the backlash to the Kashmir Files

At the 53rd IFFI’s closing event in Goa, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files was met with harsh criticism. The jury foreman, Nadav Lapid, said it was a “vulgar movie and unacceptable.” A propaganda film, he went so far as to say. In an interview with ETimes, filmmaker Vinod Ganatra voiced his displeasure at the comments.

If the jury talks like this, then what about Schindler’s List?” Vinod, Chairman of the Jury Member of Indian Panorama (Feature Films), said. It is a statement that I strongly disagree with and condemn that was made by the jury. As the head of the feature film jury, I find this to be a slur against India and an inappropriate choice for this type of film. In conclusion, he stated, “He can’t say that all the jury members felt like that. It’s something we should all feel bad about. I think this is a terrible slap in the face to the country. That’s because he was born in Israel. What about the Oscar-winning film Schindler’s List? They don’t mind it because of the Israeli connection.

A key player in “The Kashmir Files,” actor Darshan Kumar, has said, “Everyone has their own individual opinions on anything they see and perceive. One cannot dispute, however, that the film The Kashmir Files accurately portrays the struggle of the Kashmiri Pandit community for justice in the face of horrible acts of terrorism. This is not a film about obscenity, but about life as it is. The movie premiered in theatres back in March and has already earned an unprecedented amount of money. Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi star in this Vivek Agnihotri-directed film on the 1990 extermination of Kashmir’s Pandit population from the valley. Both moviegoers and critics in India enjoyed the picture.