Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who is the Jury head of IFFI (International Film Festival of India) 2022, has called director Vivek Agnihotri's film 'The Kashmir Files' a "propganda, vulgar film", adding that he was "shocked" to see the film in the competition section of such a prestigious film festival.
"All of us are disturbed. It felt to us like a 'propaganda, vulgar movie' inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious competition. I feel totally comfortable in sharing these feelings openly on stage since the spirit of the festival truly accepts critical discussion which is essential for art and life," Nadav Lapid said on Day 2 of the event being held Goa's Panaji.However, the Consul General of Israel to Midwest India Kobbi Shoshani said he has a different opinion than Lapid. "I saw the Kashmir file and met the cast. I have a different opinion than Nadav Lapid. After his speech, I told Nadav my opinion," he tweeted.
The video of Nadav Lapid's remark was widely shared on social media. "A sensitive issue of justice for Kashmiri Pandits was sacrificed at the altar of propaganda. This is a must listen segment at the #IFFIGoa2022 (sic)," said Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi while sharing the video on Twitter.
The Kashmir Files was listed in the line-up for IFFI's Indian Panorama segment for the year 2022. Other major films in the line-up included "Jai Bhim", "Major", "Ariyippu", and "RRR".
The Kashmir Files is based on the life of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990, during the Kashmir insurgency. The film is a true story, based on video interviews of the first generation victims of The Kashmir Genocide of the Kashmiri Pandit Community. It shows a heart-wrenching narrative of the pain, suffering, struggle and trauma of Kashmiri Pandits and also questions eye-opening facts about democracy, religion, politics and humanity.
Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film stars Mithun Chakraborty as Brahma Dutt, Anupam Kher as Pushkarnath, Darshan Kumar as Krishna Pandit, Pallavi Joshi as Radhika Menon, Bhasha Sumbali as Shraddha Pandit, Chinmay Mandlekar as Farooq Malik aka Bitta (Inspired by Farooq Ahmed Dar), Puneet Issar as DGP Hari Narain.
The film was a massive hit and collected over Rs 250 crore at the box office.