Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid brings The Kashmir Files back in news, Vivek Agnihotri reacts with a video

A controversy has erupted after the jury head of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) described the Hindi film 'The Kashmir Files' as "propaganda" and "vulgar".

After the backlash, Israeli diplomats had to issue statements saying the comments made by Nadav Lapid were in his personal capacity.

A day after Lapid's comments, The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri responded with a video on Twitter. He went on to say that terror supporters and genocide deniers can never silence him.

Terror supporters and Genocide deniers can never silence me.
Jai Hind. #TheKashmirFiles #ATrueStory pic.twitter.com/jMYyyenflc

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 29, 2022

What happened: Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who was also the jury head of the IFFI, being organised in Goa, on Monday (November 28) described The Kashmir Files as "propaganda" and "vulgar" movie and said that he was "disturbed and shocked" to see the film being screened at the film festival.

A sensitive issue of justice for Kashmiri Pandits was sacrificed at the altar of propaganda. This is a must listen segment at the #IFFIGoa2022 : pic.twitter.com/zd1WgKoUNa

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) November 28, 2022

"All of us were disturbed and shocked by the movie 'The Kashmir Files'. It felt to us like propaganda and vulgar movie that was inappropriate for an artistic and competitive section of such a prestigious film festival "I feel comfortable to openly share this feeling with you since the spirit of the festival can truly accept critical discussion which is essential for art and life", Lapid said.

The backlash: After comments by Lapid went viral on social media, people in India, especially Kashmiri Pandits, criticised the remarks and even questioned how he was made the jury head.

• Soon after the speech went viral, Anupam Kher took to Twitter to react to the remarks. Kher shared a few stills from The Kashmir Files. "No matter how big the lie is, it's always small in comparison to the truth," he tweeted in Hindi.

झूट का क़द कितना भी ऊँचा क्यों ना हो..
सत्य के मुक़ाबले में हमेशा छोटा ही होता है.. pic.twitter.com/OfOiFgkKtD

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) November 28, 2022

• Vivek Agnihotri in a cryptic social media post said truth is the most dangerous thing as it can make people lie. "GM. Truth is the most dangerous thing. It can make people lie. #CreativeConsciousness," Agnihotri wrote on Twitter.

GM.

Truth is the most dangerous thing. It can make people lie. #CreativeConsciousness

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) November 29, 2022

Statements from Israel: Following the backlash, the Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon put out a series of tweets and also talked about how he is worried for his team who have to stay here in India. "You will go back to Israel thinking that you are bold and 'made a statement'. We, the representatives of Israel, would stay here. You should see our DM boxes following your 'bravery' and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility," he wrote on Twitter.

6. You will go back to Israel thinking that you are bold and “made a statement”. We, the representatives of Israel, would stay here. You should see our DM boxes following your “bravery” and what implications it may have on the team under my responsibility.

— Naor Gilon (@NaorGilon) November 29, 2022

• "Feel free to use liberty to sound your criticism of what you dislike in Israel but no need to reflect your frustration on other countries," Gilon wrote.
• Kobbi Shoshani, Consul Gen of Israel to India said that Israel doesn't accept Lapid's comments. "I personally don't accept it. Ambassador, who was there with me in Goa last night, doesn't accept it. He can say that it's the opinion of the Jury which is alright. But it's nothing to do with Israel," he said.

I told him after the speech that he made a big mistake, that it wasn't appropriate. Amb & I rolled out comment & tweets in a way that makes very clear what we think about using words like "propaganda", we don't accept it. He is not representing the State of Israel: Kobbi Shoshani pic.twitter.com/vNAoXkTXGd

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2022

IFFI and Israel: During the 53rd IFFI, Israel was the country of focus. Netflix series Fauda's Season 4 premiered at the International Film Festival of India on November 27.

Creators and Executive Producers Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff travelled to Goa for the premiere with episode 1. India is one of the top 20 countries where Israeli content is most watched by Netflix members.

We are geared up for FAUDA 🇮🇱 season 4 premiere !

Looking forward to the action packed drama series !@lioraz & @issacharoff are our special guests at the #IFFI53 closing ceremony.

| @FaudaOfficial | pic.twitter.com/EKOW3jCJZZ

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) November 28, 2022

The Kashmir Files movie: Written and directed by Agnihotri, The Kashmir Files depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir following the killings of people from the community by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

• Following its release in March this year, the movie was called out by many for its problematic politics by a section of critics and authors, but it performed exceptionally well at the box office by minting over Rs 330 crore, reported PTI.
• Several BJP-ruled states, including Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat had gave it an exemption from entertainment tax which led to criticism from Opposition leaders.

SC lawyer files police complaint against Lapid: A lawyer of the Supreme Court has filed a complaint with Goa Police against Nadav Lapid for allegedly abusing Hindu community sacrifice made in Kashmir by calling the movie The Kashmir Files as 'vulgar' and 'propaganda'.

Advocate Vineet Jindal has filed a complaint against Nadav Lapid and sought registration under sections 121,153,153A and B, 295, 298, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for his comment on the movie, reported ANI.