At the closing ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Monday, the festivals jury head Mr. Nadav Lapid expressed dismay over allowing the Vivek Agnihotri-directed film ‘The Kashmir Files’ into the competition section.
According to a report in the Indian Express, Mr. Lapid remarked ‘Id like to thank the head of the festival and the director of the programming for the cinematic richness of the programme, for its diversity, for its complexity. It was intense. We saw seven films in the debutant competition, and 15 films in the international competition the front window of the festival. 14 out of them had cinematic qualities, defaults and evoked vivid discussions.’
Mr. Lapid further added ‘All of us were disturbed and shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files. That felt like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival. I feel totally comfortable to openly share these feelings here with you on this stage. In the spirit of this festival, can surely also accept a critical discussion, which is essential for art and life.’
Nadav Lapid made the remark in the presence of top ministers, including Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur.
The Kashmir Files is set against the 1990s exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, where about 90,000-100,000 left the Valley due to increasing insurgency.