After the Israeli head of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury called the controversial Indian film ‘The Kashmir Files’ a ‘senseless propaganda film’, the film, backed by India’s Hindu nationalist government, once again Then the conflict has arisen.
The Himalayan region of Kashmir has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan for decades. Both countries claim ownership of the region, but only one part of the region is under their control.
Da Kashmir Files, which tells the fictional story of the exodus of Hindu Pandits from Muslim-majority Kashmir in the 1990s, has been controversial since its release in March this year.
Israeli filmmaker Nadavlapid on Monday slammed the film for its content. “All of us (the IFFI jury) were disturbed and shocked to see the film,” which was screened at the annual festival in the coastal tourist state of Goa, he said.
In the presence of government ministers in the audience at the closing ceremony of the film festival, Lapid said that ‘We were troubled by the film Da Kashmir Files and suffered a setback. We found the film to be crass propaganda which was not suitable for the artistic competition involved in such a prestigious film festival.
‘I feel completely satisfied to share these feelings with you openly on stage. Critical debate can certainly be embraced in the spirit of the festival, which is essential to art and life.’
The Kashmir Files, starring Bollywood actors Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Puneet Asar, Aman Iqbal and Pallavi Joshi, depicts the exodus of thousands of people from Kashmir in the early 1990s due to the threat of terrorism. Most of them were Hindus. Several Pandits, who are Kashmiri Brahmins, often say that their history is not well covered.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with several lawmakers from his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), promoted the film in an unprecedented way. Thanks to tax exemptions and government support in many states, the Hindi-language film was a huge success at the box office.
Critics accused the federal government of using the film to promote right-wing propaganda narratives based on perceived oppression of Hindus in India. After the release of the film, violence against Muslims in the country increased at a time when minority communities were already suffering from oppression.
The film’s director, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, reacted to Lapid’s criticism by tweeting in a veiled manner, ‘Truth is most dangerous. It can lie to people.’
Anupam Kher, who played the lead role in Da Kashmir Files, said that the criticism of the film was premeditated and it was shameful. He accused the head of the jury that he did not realize the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits.
“Our responsibility as a jury member is to evaluate the technical and aesthetic quality of the film and its socio-cultural relevance,” said Jury member Sudpatosin.
“We do not make any political opinions about any film and if we do, it is a purely personal act.”
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In his statement, Israel’s ambassador to India, Nauer Galvin, has used strong words, saying that Lapid ‘grossly misused the invitation to chair the panel.’ and ‘Shame on them.’
The Israeli ambassador said that ‘I am not a film expert, but I know for sure that it is insensitive and tongue-in-cheek to talk about historical events without going deep and studying them. These incidents are an open wound in India as many of the people affected by them are still around and still paying the price.’
Galvin said that he was “ashamed” as a human being and wanted to apologize to the host country for the “bad way we responded to their friendship and generosity”.
An open letter to #NadavLapid following his criticism of #KashmirFiles. It’s not in Hebrew because I wanted our Indian brothers and sisters to be able to understand. It is also relatively long so I’ll give you the bottom line first. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Here’s why: pic.twitter.com/8YpSQGMXIR
— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) November 29, 2022
Controversy over The Kashmir Files led Singapore to ban its screening in May because it “portrayed Muslims in an inflammatory and one-sided manner.”
Singapore declared that the said film ‘exceeds’ its classification guidelines. The Singapore government said the film’s depictions ‘have the potential to create animosity between different communities and affect social and religious harmony in our multi-racial and multi-religious society.’
(Editing: JH. Translation: Ali Raza)
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#Controversy #Kashmir #Files #termed #absurd #propaganda
2024-09-12 14:47:16
Kashmir Files real photos
Table of Contents
The Kashmir Files: A Controversial Film Sparks Debate and Outrage
The Kashmir Files, a film that tells the story of the exodus of Hindu Pandits from Muslim-majority Kashmir in the 1990s, has been embroiled in controversy since its release in March 2022. The film, backed by India’s Hindu nationalist government, has been criticized for its perceived propaganda and one-sided narrative. The latest controversy surrounds Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who called the film a “senseless propaganda film” while heading the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury.
Lapid’s remarks sparked outrage among the Indian government and supporters of the film, who claim that the film is based on reality and highlights the suffering of Kashmiri Pandits. Actor Darshan Kumaar, who stars in the film, defended it, saying that it is not about vulgarity but about reality [1[1[1[1[1[1[1[1]. However, critics argue that the film is nationalistic propaganda that exaggerated and distorted facts to promote a one-sided narrative [2[2[2[2[2[2[2[2].
The film has been promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other government officials, who have praised its depiction of the exodus of Hindus from Kashmir. However, critics accuse the government of using the film to promote right-wing propaganda and create animosity towards Muslims [3[3[3[3[3[3[3[3]. The film’s director, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, has responded to criticism, saying that truth is often hidden, and people are misinformed.
The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the role of art in politics and the responsibility of filmmakers to represent facts accurately. The Israeli ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has apologized to the host country for Lapid’s comments, saying that they were insensitive and misused their invitation [tweet[tweet[tweet[tweet[tweet[tweet[tweet[tweet].
The Kashmir Files has also been banned in Singapore due to its inflammatory and one-sided depiction of Muslims. The Singapore government has stated that the film’s content has the potential to create animosity between different communities and affect social and religious harmony.
The controversy surrounding The Kashmir Files highlights the complexities of representing historical events and the responsibility of artists to represent multiple perspectives. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the film will be received in the coming months and whether it will spark further controversy.
Keywords: The Kashmir Files, Nadav Lapid, International Film Festival of India, Hindu nationalist government, propaganda, Kashmiri Pandits, Muslims, Singapore, film controversy.
Controversy Erupts Over Israeli Filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s Criticism of ‘The Kashmir Files’
The Kashmir region, a long-standing bone of contention between India and Pakistan, has once again sparked controversy, this time in the world of cinema. Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, head of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury, has called the Indian film ‘The Kashmir Files’ a “senseless propaganda film”, sparking outrage and apologies.
The Controversial Film
‘The Kashmir Files’, directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, tells the fictional story of the exodus of Hindu Pandits from Muslim-majority Kashmir in the 1990s. The film has been mired in controversy since its release in March 2022, with critics accusing the Indian government of using the film to promote right-wing propaganda narratives [[2]]. The film’s success at the box office, attributed to tax exemptions and government support in many states, has been seen as a sign of the government’s endorsement of the film’s ideology.
Lapid’s Criticism
At the closing ceremony of the IFFI, Lapid slammed the film, saying that it was “not suitable for the artistic competition involved in such a prestigious film festival.” He stated that the jury was “disturbed and shocked” by the film’s content, which they deemed to be “crass propaganda” [[1]]. Lapid’s criticism has been met with outrage from the film’s cast and crew, including Anupam Kher, who accused Lapid of not understanding the sufferings of Kashmiri Pandits.
Israeli Ambassador’s Apology
In a surprising turn of events, Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, has apologized for Lapid’s comments, saying that he “grossly misused the invitation to chair the panel” and that the Israeli delegation was “ashamed” of Lapid’s remarks [[3]]. Gilon stated that the incidents depicted in the film were an “open wound” in India and that it was insensitive to discuss historical events without proper understanding.
Indian Government’s Support
The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused of promoting the film as part of their right-wing ideology. The government’s support for the film has been seen as a way to perpetuate narratives of Hindu oppression in India, which has led to increased violence against Muslims and other minority communities.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding ‘The Kashmir Files’ and Lapid’s criticism highlights the complex and sensitive nature of the Kashmir conflict. While the film has sparked important discussions about the region’s history, it has also been criticized for its perceived propaganda and insensitivity towards the Muslim community. As the debate continues, it is essential to approach the subject with nuance and respect for all parties involved.
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