From the day first, the movie was referred to as propaganda which does a job of inciting, rather than allowing the audience to have a deeper view of the issue at hand. And that is what happened, the clips of the movies were widely shared on social media, aimed at otherization of the Kashmiri pandits and clearly showing that terrorism has a religion and every Kashmiri Muslim was a separatist with the only aim of converting the Kashmiri pandits to Islam. Vivek Agnihotri who is famous for creating ‘Hate Story’ did it again in the shape of ‘The Kashmir Files’.
The movie has successfully created a rift between the two communities and has also been successful in vitiating the atmosphere where the other side has been shown with different posturing. What happened to Kashmiri pandits back in the ’90s is tragic and there is no denying that, but, at the same time there is a moderate section of the people living in Kashmir, but what the movie has done, is that, it has side-lined that side of the history. What has been shown in the movie is a part of the history of Kashmir, because it has happened, but the same has been distorted, presented in a way that suits a particular narrative: which aims at demonizing the side which has suffered more than what the Kashmiri Pandits have faced.
The remarks which have come from Lapid are endorsed by most of the people in India. The remarks of Mr. Lapid has found a place because most of the cinema fraternity including politicians endorse that the movie is nothing but sheer propaganda, a one-sided narrative of several complexities, which has tried to show history as black and white, which is not always the case. If the movie has shown a piece of history, then there are other related parts of the history too, which cannot be sidelined at all. And if that side lining is done then—as has been done in The Kashmir Files, then it becomes a work of fiction; in that light, Lapid is right in what he has stated about the film. The Israeli filmmaker has made the remarks as an expert and an independent entity, but it seems that the entire system has risen, seeking an apology from him just for presenting objective views about a movie. India is known for producing world-class and artistic content, but it needs to be accepted that The Kashmir Files, unfortunately, has damaged the reputation of cinematic art in India.
