Controversies surrounding Bollywood movies are nothing new. Controversies are a part of this industry, whether political issues, cultural portrayals, explicit scenes, social issues, or religious sentiments. From Aandhi, Ram Teri Ganga Maili, Insaaf ka Tarazu during the 70s to 90s, to Paanch, PK, My Name is Khan, The Dirty Picture, Ram-Leela, Padmavati, and Gangubai Kathiawadi of recent times, controversies in Bollywood are waiting to happen. The list of movies involved suffering such an ill-fate is endless. One of the latest addition to this list, which is sending waves across the nation, is The Kashmir Files.
The Story Of The Kashmir Files
Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files revolves around the situation of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the war-affected Kashmir Valley that took place in 1990. The plot revolves around Krishna Pandit, a young JNU student, influenced by professor Radhika Menon, a believer in the “Kashmir cause”. Young Krishna has been told that his parents died in an accident by his grandfather, Pushkar Nath. After the death of his grandfather, Pandit took the ashes to Kashmir, where he learned about the truth behind his parents’ death. The film portrays the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus as a genocide based on the killing of B. K. Ganjoo by Kashmiri insurgents.
Considering the director, whose previous stint was with The Tashkent Files that explored the death of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, his latest was bound to be a hot topic of the discussion. The Kashmir Files do not hold back the punches in its dialogues or cinematography, making the film all the more relatable. The depiction of the exodus has the public divided in two with statements from places of power and the media adding fuel to the fire.
Too Little Too Late?
The issue surrounding Kashmir and the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan have been around for decades. The Central Government, through the decades, has tried to instill a sense of belongingness to the Union of India among the various factions of the Kashmiri society.
As we lament and protest about different genocidal atrocities worldwide, our generation, some of whom might not even have been born in the 1990s, are completely in the dark about the plight and en masse exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits.
For the last 30 years, the political blame game has gone on. However, those who had to face the atrocities in 1990, still have no answer. The Kashmiri Pandits are still living away from their home soil.
The graphic content of the film, combined with a tight, gripping story, put the audience in the shoes of the characters. Added to that, straying away from the tried and tested formula of Bollywood flicks surely does not go down well with a major section of movie-goers. While little effort has been made to restore the Kashmiri Pandits to their homes, The Kashmir Files movie and the controversies encapsulating it will surely send a message of the affected plight to the masses.
Director’s Take
Following a public exchange on Twitter, where Vivek Agnihotri answered a fan's question regarding why the movie was not given the opportunity to publicize on one of India's most popular shows, the questions do not seem to stop.
When asked whether the film is “Islamophobic”, on national television, the director went on to say that incidents on which the film is based were a religious genocide. He called out the forceful nature of the genocide, fueled by religious sentiments. He comments that what was once considered a 100% Hindu state and was the cradle of our ancient texts and philosophers like Panini has now less than 1% of Hindu natives. He refrained from commenting on whether it was Islamophobia but pointed out that it was a phobia or fear in general that has encompassed the Kashmir Valley in general.
The Kashmir Files may not have been a big-budget movie by Bollywood standards, but it is making a huge financial and cultural impact. The State of Rhode Island recognized the incidents of 1990 due to this movie. Agnihotri shared this message on his social media handles. His gratitude for the film's impact was clear in his post. He voiced his concern for unpunished deeds and how “The New India” is responding to it.
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Public Reaction
In a country like India, public opinion is all that matters. On the subject of The Kashmir Files, the nation is divided. One side is that the film wrongly portrays the events and strays away from the actual history. The other believes that the events portrayed are accurate and voicing their concerns over the violent incident. Most of the audience is coming to know about the exodus for the first time and their reaction is something to take note of. Movie-goers are describing their feelings towards the film as “shocked”, “empty” or “alone”.
The movie has also been accused of propaganda. Some have found it disturbing while some failed to see through the creative freedom in the narrative. An overwhelming and powerful depiction of the incidents has become a reason why people are prompted to take sides. While the controversy rages on, it should not be forgotten that there are always two sides to a coin.
State Government Making The Film Tax-Free
As of writing this, as many as eight state governments have made The Kashmir Files movie tax-free. As the film portrays a community in a negative light, the fact that all of these eight state governments are administered by the ruling party at the center has complicated things and created a further rift in public opinion. The credibility of the film is being questioned and is being written off as another attempt at propaganda.
Reports are coming in that MLAs in states like Rajasthan, Bihar, and Maharashtra are urging their state governments to follow suit and make The Kashmir Files tax-free. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has acknowledged an accurate depiction of the movie. He opined that instead of reviewing the movie on the basis of facts and figures, restless people are conspiring to discredit its story. His call to action to his party members to “stand up for those bringing out the truth” has also become a major topic point.
What Should You Do?
As a movie-goer, you should be stepping into the cinema hall with an open mind. The Kashmir Files is a creative piece of work at the end of the day. Try to look beyond the veil of conspiracies and controversies and attempt to appreciate the portrayal of the art. Controversies are a part of Bollywood. Learning to shut the gossip up and watching the movie with a clean slate is all that can be expected from a lover of the art of cinema.
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