While some demanded the resignation of Information and Broadcast Minister Anurag Thakur, a Delhi-based advocate went on to lodge a complaint against Israeli Director Nadav Lapid for making remarks
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Hindutva trolls have descended to target the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury and Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for calling the controversial move, ‘The Kashmir Files’, propaganda and vulgar.
“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,” said Lapid at the festival in Goa on Monday.
Lapid said, “It seemed to us like a propagandist movie inappropriate for an artistic, competitive section of such a prestigious film festival. I feel totally comfortable to openly share these feelings here with you on stage. Since the spirit of having a festival is to accept also a critical discussion which is essential for art and for life”.
The movie purported to be about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits has been facing severe criticism ever since it was released for showing a one-sided story and sensationalising the episode of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. It was accused of spreading hatred and anti-Muslim sentiment as it was used to target the entire Muslim community.
Therefore, the remarks made by Lapid fell in line with the criticism the movie has faced. However, these remarks did not go well with the supporters of Hindutva.
Some even started demanding the resignation of Information and Broadcast Minister Anurag Thakur and deporting the filmmaker.
Here are the screenshots of some of the tweets which made outrageous remarks about the criticism.
Israeli Ambassador of India Naor Gilon indirectly said that the way some people are reacting could make an impact on his team who are working under him staying in India. His inboxes are full of such reactions.
“You will go back to Israel thinking that you are bold and “made a statement”. We, the representatives of Israel, would stay here. You should see our DM boxes following your “bravery” and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility,” Gilon tweeted.
This is why Gilon was very quick to condemn the criticism made by Lapid about the movie. Shaming Lapid for his remarks, he expected him to make positive statements about the movie because he was invited by Indian government.
“You have abused in the worst way the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges at @IFFIGoa as well as the trust, respect and warm hospitality they have bestowed on you,” he said.
Meanwhile, a Delhi-based advocate, Vineet Jindal, even went on to lodge a complaint against Israeli Director Lapid for making remarks.
However, Lapid has received support from a large number of people who lauded him for making a fair assessment of the movie.
Terming ‘The Kashmir Files’ as propaganda by one party against another, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut came out in defence of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury chief, Lapid.
“This is true about ‘The Kashmir Files’… It was propaganda by one party against another… The maximum number of killings in Kashmir have taken place after this film. Kashmiri Pandits and security personnel were killed… But, a party and the government were busy with publicity,” said Raut to mediapersons.
He asked where ‘The Kashmir Files’ people were when the killings were going on in Kashmir, with even the children of Kashmiri Pandits launching an agitation.
“Nobody stepped forward then… and there were no plans for a ‘Kashmir Files 2.0’ then… Let them make it,” said Raut.
Supriya Shrinate, Chairperson of Congress’s Social Media and Digital Platforms, lauded his remarks for calling out hate.
Reacting to his remarks, journalist Shakshi Joshi tweeted: “When u make a propaganda film and leave no stone unturned in misusing your power to reward a film that is ‘VULGAR’ in his words , this is how embarrassing it gets”.
