Israeli filmmaker in Hindutva crosshairs for calling ‘The Kashmir Files’ vulgar

Hindutva trolls have descended to target the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) jury and Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid for calling the controversial Bollywood move, ‘The Kashmir Files’, propaganda and vulgar.

Lapid at the closing ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India, in Goa, on Monday said, “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.”

The movie representing false facts 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 from the Kashmir Valey. 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.

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 his 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. He said, this is true about ‘The Kashmir Files’… It was propaganda by one party against another.

Supriya Shrinate, Chairperson of Social Media and Digital Platforms of Congress, lauded Lapid’s remarks for calling out hate.

Reacting to Lapid’s remarks, journalist Shakshi Joshi tweeted: “When you 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”.