The Kashmir Files Row: From Vivek Agnihotri to Swara Bhaskar, Here's How Celebs Reacted
The film generated controversy after the Israeli director Nadav Lapid, who chaired the 53rd International Film Festival of India called 'The Kashmir Files' a 'propoganda' and 'vulgar film'.
New Delhi: 'The Kashmir Files' fails to run out of controversy. The Vivek Agnihotri directorial was chosen for the Indian Panorama Section and premiered on November 22. The film generated controversy after the Israeli director Nadav Lapid, who chaired the 53rd International Film Festival of India as the head of the jury, called 'The Kashmir Files' a 'propoganda' and 'vulgar film'.
The jury, according to Lapid, was "disturbed and shocked" when they saw the movie being screened at the festival.
Soon after the filmmaker's statement, social media erupted with protests against the filmmaker's remark, many being actors and filmmakers themselves.
The killings and evacuation of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in 1990 is at the focus of the movie, which was released in theatres on March 11. Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi play the three main characters in the movie.
Anupam Kher took to Twitter to share a few pictures which include, Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List and his still from The Kashmir Files. His tweet in Hindi is loosely translated as, "No matter how big the lie is, it's always small in comparison to the truth (sic)."
He did not mention Lapid's name in his tweet.
झूट का क़द कितना भी ऊँचा क्यों ना हो..
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) November 28, 2022
सत्य के मुक़ाबले में हमेशा छोटा ही होता है.. pic.twitter.com/OfOiFgkKtD
Israel's Ambassador to India, Naor Gilon took to his twitter handle and shared pointers bringing to light how the Israeli filmmaker disrespected Indians by calling a film based on real life incidents "propaganda" and "vulgar".
Actor Darshan Kumar, who also had a major role in the film, spoke to the Times Of India and expressed his displeasure over Lapid’s statement “Everyone has their own individual opinions on anything they see and perceive. But one can’t deny the fact is that The Kashmir files is a film which has depicted the actual plight of Kashmiri pandit community, who are still fighting for justice against the brutal acts of terrorism. So this film is not on vulgarity but on reality,” he was quoted as saying by Times Of India.
Actor Ranvir Shorey said that the statement 'reek of politics'. He tweeted, "The singling out of a film and the language used to describe it is completely unbecoming of a film jury or critic. It reeks of politics. Cinema has always been the harbinger of truth & change, not an agent to stifle or snuff it. Shameful display of political opportunism at #IFFI."
The singling out of a film and the language used to describe it is completely unbecoming of a film jury or critic. It reeks of politics. Cinema has always been the harbinger of truth & change, not an agent to stifle or snuff it. Shameful display of political opportunism at #IFFI.
— Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) November 28, 2022
Swara Bhaskar took to her Twitter handle and wrote, " Apparently it's pretty clear to the world."
Ummmm.. Israeli Ambassador inadvertently revealing the condition of freedom of speech and expression in India 😬😬😂😂
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) November 29, 2022
This thread gets better and better. 🙏🏽
Btw sir there are many Indians who who agree with Nadav Lapid. Happy to DM you our views 🙏🏽✨ https://t.co/1QHXUaM1ra
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit too criticised Lapid’s remark. He tweeted, “#NadavLapid’s irresponsible statement against #KashmiriFiles is an insult to Indian filmmakers. I therefore appeal to Indian Filmmakers to stand by a fellow director and denounce a foreigner, who mocked the genocide & ethnic cleansing of #KashmiriPandits.”
#NadavLapid’s irresponsible statement against #KashmiriFiles is an insult 2 Indian filmmakers.
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 29, 2022
I therefore appeal to Indian Filmmakers to stand by a fellow director @vivekagnihotri and denounce a foreigner,who mocked the genocide & ethnic cleansing of #KashmiriPandits.#IFFI2022
After sharing a cryptic tweet in the morning, 'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri has now shared a video on Twitter to give his reaction to Lapid's comment. He tweeted, "Terror supporters and Genocide deniers can never silence me. Jai Hind. #TheKashmirFiles #ATrueStory"
In the video he said, "This is nothing new for me. Because such things are often said by terrorist organisations, urban naxals and by those who wants to divide the country. What is shocking to me is that narrative supported by those who wish to separate Kashmir from India were voiced at the stage of an event organised by the government on India. And a few who live India used it against the country. Who are these people."
Terror supporters and Genocide deniers can never silence me.
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 29, 2022
Jai Hind. #TheKashmirFiles #ATrueStory pic.twitter.com/jMYyyenflc
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