SRINAGAR: The jury of 53rd International Film Festival in Goa has slammed the controversial movie ‘Kashmir Files’, which revolves around the killings and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 from Kashmir Valley. Calling it “propaganda” and a “vulgar movie”, Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who headed the jury, said “all of them” were “disturbed and shocked” that the film was screened at the festival.
“It seemed to us like a propagandist 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,” NDTV quoted Lapid as having said.
The Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi starrr, directed by Vivek Agnihotri, was featured in the “Panorama” section of the festival.
It has been praised by the ruling BJP and has been declared tax-free in most BJP-ruled states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have praised on the movie.
Many, however, have criticised the content, calling it a one-sided portrayal of the events and claiming it has a “propagandist tone”.
In May, Singapore banned the movie, citing concerns over its “potential to cause enmity between different communities”.
