The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri created a sensation at the box office across the country. While people are divided over the film's content, the realistic portrayal of the genocide of Hindus from the Kashmir valley in the 90s moved all the Hindus.
Many top stars of Bollywood and across the country maintained a stoic silence over the film's success at the box office for the fear of facing backlash from the particular community. The Kashmir Files film was screened at the IFFI in Goa. What shocked all is the IFFI jury head Nadav Lapid came up with insulting and insinuating remarks.
Nadav Lapid said ""I would like to thank the head of the festival and the director of the programming for the cinematic richness of the program, 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,"
He 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 openly sharing these feelings here with you at this stage. In the spirit of this festival, can surely also accept a critical discussion, which is essential for art and life,"
Anupam Kher who played the lead role in the film, countered him strongly saying "No matter how high the height of the lie is.. It is always small in comparison to the truth." IFFI organizers refused to comment on the entire issue.