Vivek Agnihotri, Anupam Kher react to 'propaganda, vulgar movie' remark on The Kashmir Files

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has responded to IFFI jury head's Nadav Lapid remarks dismissing The Kashmir Files as a 'propaganda, vulgar movie'.

"GM. Truth is the most dangerous thing. It can make people lie. #CreativeConsciousness," he tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Speaking at the 53rd IFFI closing ceremony last night, Nadav Lapid, an Israeli filmmaker, labelled The Kashmir Files as 'propaganda' and 'inappropriate' for the artistic competitive section of the festival.

He said, “We were, all of us, disturbed and shocked by the 15th film: The Kashmir Files. That felt to us like propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival. I feel totally comfortable to share openly these feelings here with you on stage. Since the spirit of having a festival is to accept also a critical discussion which is essential for art and for life.”

Speaking to ANI, The Kashmir Files actor Anupam Kher reacted to the jury head's comments with, "...If holocaust is right, the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits is right too. Seems pre-planned as immediately after that the toolkit gang became active. May God give him wisdom.."

Sudipto Sen, a member of the IFFI jury, posted a letter from the jury board distancing itself from Nadav Lapid's statements. The letter argues the jury didn't share the opinions expressed onstage by the jury head.

"Whatever has been said by IFFI 2022 Jury Chairman Mr. Nadav Lapid about the film The Kashmir Files, from the stage of closing ceremony of 53-rd IFFI was completely his personal opinion. In the official presentation of the Jury Board to the Festival Director and in the official Press Conference, where we 4 juries (the fifth jury had to leave for her personal emergency) were present and interacted with the press, we never mentioned anything about our likes or dislikes. Both were our official collective opinion," the letter reads.

The Kashmir Files depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the early 1990s. The film was a commercial success despite negative reviews.