Propaganda, vulgar movie: IFFI 2022 jury head Nadav Lapid, triggers remark over his remark on The Kashmir Files

The closing ceremony of the 53rd Film Festival of India concluded on a controversial note as the festival’s jury head Nadav Lapid expressed his dissent with the screening of The Kashmir Files into a section of elite competition and called it a ‘propaganda, vulgar movie.’

“We saw seven films in the debutant competition and 15 films in the international competition – the front window of the festival. Fourteen out of them had cinematic qualities and defaults and evoked vivid discussion,” Nadav Lapid, an Israeli filmmaker, said.

“All of us were disturbed and 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,” said Nadav Lapid, an Israeli filmmaker,” Lapid added.

I feel comfortable openly sharing these feelings with you at this stage. In the spirit of this festival, we can surely also accept a critical discussion, which is essential for art and life,” Lapid concluded his speech.

The controversial remark made by the Israel filmmaker was in the presence of ministers like Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.

In response, Anupam Kher, veteran Indian actor and lead in the movie, The Kashmir Files, “No matter how high the height of the lie if. It is always small in comparison to the truth,” tweeted.

Notably, The Kashmir Files was selected in the Indian Panorama Section, and the special screening of the movie was done on November 22 in the presence of Anupam Kher, who portrayed the lead character in the movie.

The Kashmir Files was released earlier this year, on March 11. The film depicts the exodus and killings of the Kashmir Pandits in the valley in 1990. While the movie was very well received in India and instantly became a blockbuster, it was severely criticised by a few critics.

ALSO READ || While soldiers…..Youth watching Uorfi Javed’s pictures inside blanket, NCW chief slams Chetan Bhagat

Written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files was also banned in Singapore by the Singaporean authorities since it was deemed to be beyond the city-state’s film classification standards. Besides Anupam Kher, the film also featured Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi in pivotal roles.

ALSO READ || Slapped, abused and physically hurt? Smriti Irani has few suggestions, check here