Nadav Lapid, IFFI 2022 jury member calls The Kashmir Files ‘vulgar and propaganda’ movie, faces flak

The Israel filmmaker and part of the jury at the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Monday triggered massive outrage on social media after he remarked on the blockbuster and critically acclaimed movie, The Kashmir Files, at the closing ceremony of the prestigious event caught attention.

“All of us were shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files, that felt like a propaganda, vulgar movie inappropriate for a competitive artistic section of such a prestigious film festival,” Lapid said in the presence of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files, starring Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi in pivotal roles, was selected for the Indian Panorama Section and was screened on November 22.

Since Lapid’s statement was noticed, it started trending on social media platforms as ‘Shame’ (pointing towards an Israeli filmmaker) became the top Twitter trend on Monday, late evening.

Nadav Lapid faced massive backlash on Twitter as a section of Indian society found his observation completely false and misappropriate. Indian veteran actor Anupam Kher took to Twitter and tweeted, “No matter how high the height of the lie is, it is always small in comparison to the truth.” Check out other reactions.

Shameless statement on The Kashmir Files by someone who comes across as illiterate. Will this Israeli film director Nadav Lapid call Holocaust a propaganda?

Will he call Schindler’s List and The Pianist as propaganda films? @netanyahu @NaorGilon pic.twitter.com/yuUF8pl5xs
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) November 28, 2022

झूट का क़द कितना भी ऊँचा क्यों ना हो..
सत्य के मुक़ाबले में हमेशा छोटा ही होता है.. pic.twitter.com/OfOiFgkKtD
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) November 28, 2022

Entire Left lobby got activated when ‘The Kashmir Files’ was released because they don’t want people to know the truth.

It took them 6 decades to build that ecosystem and they are getting exposed everyday.

We want more such movies
— desi mojito ?? (@desimojito) November 24, 2022

How long will chaps like #Nadavlapid deny facts. They have a problem with one #KashmirFiles. The best thing displaced kashmiri #Hindu #Pandits gave their future generation was education & knowledge.
The world should prepare & stand by for many more books & films on their plight. https://t.co/wH3qCTQExN
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) November 28, 2022

Real world ugly events makes for ugly retelling of tale unless it is whitewashed.Calling it ‘ugly’ and ‘propaganda’ is uncalled for & beyond any film Jury’s mandate.Their mandate should be limited to judging the film and not make political comments on public stage. #KashmirFiles
— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) November 28, 2022

Doesn’t matter who says what. As a audience Indians have already approved this movie with all emotions and respect. #KashmirFiles https://t.co/ubdVoZa8Uu
— Kanchan Shastri (@kshastri99) November 28, 2022

I take strong objection to the language used by Mr. Nadav Lapid for #kashmirFiles .
Depicting the genocide of 3 lakh #KashmiriHindus cannot be called vulgar .
I as a filmmaker & a #KashmiriPandit condemn this shameless act of abuse towards victims of terrorism .
— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) November 28, 2022