Team Clarion
PANAJI — Nadav Lapid, Israeli Director and filmmaker who was the Jury Chairman of the International Competition section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), during the concluding ceremony of the festival held here, termed the movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ as ‘vulgar’ and ‘inappropriate’, and said that the spirit of the festival can surely accept a critical discussion as well, which is essential for art and life.
Notably the controversial movie ‘The Kashmir Files,’ which revolves around the violence and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 from Kashmir Valley has been praised by the BJP and has been declared tax-free in most BJP-ruled states and was a box office hit.
Many, however, have criticised the content, calling it a one-sided portrayal of the events that is sometimes factually incorrect and claiming the movie has a “propagandist tone”.
The head of the jury at IFFI Nadav Lapid said on Monday that the IFFI was disturbed about this film. Sharing the experience of the jury, he said that 14 out of them (international films) had cinematic quality.
“All of us were disturbed and shocked by the 15th film ‘The Kashmir Files’. That felt to us like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival,” Lapid added.
“I feel totally comfortable to openly share these feelings here with you on this stage. Since, the spirit of the festival can surely also accept a critical discussion, which is essential for art and life,” he said.
In May, Singapore banned the movie, citing concerns over its “potential to cause enmity between different communities”.
“The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the ongoing conflict in Kashmir,” read a statement from the Singapore government, reported news agency Press Trust of India.
The Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi starrer, directed by Vivek Agnihotri was featured in the “Panorama” section of the festival last week.
(With inputs from media)