New Delhi: Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid’s disparaging comments over the inclusion of “The Kashmir Files” in the competitive section of the International Film Festival of India that concluded in Goa on Monday triggered a strong backlash with even Israel’s envoy to India, Naor Gilon, calling them “insensitive and presumptuous”.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant, director of the film Vivek Agnihotri and its lead actor Anupam Kher also slammed Lapid, even as the political opposition latched onto Lapid’s remarks, as the chairman of the jury, as validation of their views that the movie was “BJP-backed propaganda”.

As Lapid’s comments ballooned into a political firestorm, the Israeli mission swung into damage-control mode. Ambassador Gilon said Lapid should be “ashamed” of abusing India’s invitation to chair the panel at IFFI and the trust, respect and warm hospitality bestowed on him. He said, “I’m no film expert but I do know that it’s insensitive and presumptuous to speak about historic events before deeply studying them and which are an open wound in India.”

At a joint conference with Kher, Israel consul general Kobbi Shoshani said the film was not propaganda and “carried a very strong message”.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of IFFI, the government’s marquee film festival, Lapid addressed an audience including Union ministers Anurag Thakur and L Murugan, Asha Parekh, Akshay Kumar and Rana Daggubati, and said that he and his fellow jurors were “disturbed and shocked” by the inclusion of “The Kashmir Files” since it was “a propaganda, vulgar movie”.

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New Delhi: With the row over Israeli director Nadav Lapid’s remarks about Kashmir Files turning into a political storm, its ambassador to India, Naon Gilon said that while the friendship between India and Israel is “very strong” and “will survive the damage” inflicted by Lapid’s remarks, the filmmaker should reserve his criticism for the government in Israel.

At the closing ceremony of IFFI, Lapid had said, “There were 15 films in the international competition—the front window of the festival. Fourteen out of them had the cinematic qualities. . . and evoked vivid discussions. We were, all of us, disturbed and shocked by the 15th film—‘The Kashmir Files’—that felt to us like a propaganda, vulgar 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 that we felt in the festival can truly accept also a critical discussion, which is essential for art and for life,” he added.

Former Israeli ambassador Daniel Carmon also unequivocally condemned Lapid’s statements. The Israeli director’s comments left the political spectrum divided. Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said Lapid had misused the IFFI platform to heap insult on the horrors faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community, but was countered by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who backed Lapid’s charge and said ‘The Kashmir Files’ was “propaganda by one party against another”.

“A party and the government were busy with publicity… but the maximum number of killings in Kashmir occurred after this film was released. Kashmiri Pandits and security personnel were killed,” Raut said.

Congress’ Shashi Tharoor waded in, too, saying the inclusion of the film had “embarrassed the nation before the world”. “It is widely known that ‘The Kashmir Files’ . . . has received official and unofficial backing from the ruling party (sic) and its minions in the film establishment, since it serves the purpose of fomenting the Islamophobia that some in the Sangh Parivar are happy to promote,” he said.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said Lapid’s comments “were on the quality of the film”. “It is obvious for anyone to understand that Nadav Lapid had at no point denied the Kashmiri Pandit exodus or dismissed it,” she said.

The Israeli filmmaker was pilloried and branded a “supporter of Palestine” on social media, and even faced a police complaint against him in Goa for outraging “Hindu sentiments”.

While there were no comments from most of his international juror colleagues, Indian filmmaker Sudipto Sen said Lapid’s remarks were no reflection of the jury’s views. “As jurors, we are assigned to judge the technical, aesthetic quality and socio-cultural relevance of a film. We don’t indulge in any kind of political comments on any film and if it is done, it is completely in a personal capacity,” Sen said.

The filmmaker’s controversial comments exposed the “left vs right” fault-lines and led to questions over his appointment as jury chair at IFFI. There was considerable consternation and dismay among a section of pro-Hindutva handles which questioned the event organizers over their failure to run a thorough background check into Lapid’s well-known “anti-establishment, Palestine-supporting” antecedents, and also the fact that he remains a deeply polarising figure back home.

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The Kashmir Files director Vivek Agnihotri said he will quit filmmaking if intellectuals, including Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, are able to prove that events depicted in his film are false. “What’s surprising is how an event organized by the government of India was used to support the narrative of terrorists who want Kashmir’s separation from India and how many Indians living in India used it against the country?” he asked.

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Kashmiri Pandits, whose parents were killed by terrorists in the Valley, lashed out at Lapid for terming The Kashmir Files a “propaganda movie” and “vulgar”. They demanded that Lapid be immediately deported. Vikas Raina, son of Ashok Kumar, who was killed by Hizbul Mujahideen, said, “Does he know my pain? My father was brought down from a bus and sprayed with a volley of bullet. ”

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Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, the jury head of the 53rd IFFI, on Monday, described The Kashmir Files as “propaganda”. At the closing ceremony, Lapid said, “All of us were disturbed and shocked by The Kashmir Files. It felt to us like a propaganda and vulgar movie that was inappropriate for an artistic and competitive section of such a prestigious film festival. ” Lapid’s comments invited reactions from the film’s crew and Israeli officials, among others.

Naor Gilon opposed Lapid’s statement on Twitter, writing that “it’s insensitive and presumptuous to speak about historic events before deeply studying them. . . The connection you make between your criticism of #KashmirFiles and your dislike to what is happening in Israeli politics was quite evident. . . My suggestion. As you vocally did in the past, feel free to use the liberty to sound your criticism of what you dislike in Israel but no need to reflect your frustration on other countries. ”

Lapid’s 2019 film Synonymes (2019) won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, while his 2021 film, Ahed’s Knee, was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Fest. He’s also been a part of several international film fest juries, including at Cannes and Berlin. A vocal critic of Israel’s current political climate, Lapid once said in an interview, “The Israeli collective soul is a sick soul... It’s not special to Israel. This sickness or nature is characterized by young Israeli men muscular, smiling, who don’t raise any questions. They have a totally dichotomist vision of existence : Us versus all others.”

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Just when it looked like all the controversies around The Kashmir Files had subsided, the film was firmly put back in the jarring spotlight after the jury head of the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) deemed it “vulgar”, and an unfit choice for the festival’s competitive section.

Though Israeli director Nadav Lapid claimed that his co-jurors shared his opinion that the film that “disturbed and shocked” them “felt like a propaganda”, co-juror Sudipto Sen distanced himself from the stance. “It is his personal opinion, because, officially, no discussion happened between [the five jurors]. [At the ceremony], while announcing the awards, we were to read our citation from a printed page, which was [presented to] the festival authorities. But, Nadav expressed his own views. We were not consulted,” says Sen, adding that jury members often refrain from political commentary on the shortlisted movies. 

While Sen claims Lapid’s opinions were not shared by others, isn’t his comment as the jury head synonymous with an official statement from the IFFI jury itself? “All our official communication happens with the authorities and then with the press. We don’t make any other comment separately,” he responds, alluding to Lapid’s decision. 

The only Indian on the five-member panel, Sen reveals that the job of jurors is concluded post the official presentation. “After that, if any individual goes on any forum and speaks differently from [what was expressed at] the official presentation, how should the festival own up?”

Speaking at the 53rd edition of IFFI, jury head Lapid described The Kashmir Files as “propaganda” and “vulgar”. In his speech at the closing ceremony, he said he was “disturbed and shocked” to see the film being screened at the film festival. He was subsequently accused of whitewashing Islamist violence and disregarding the plight of Hindus in Kashmir.

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid is the jury head of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI). Via his style of filmmaking, he has also been vocal about his conflicted views of Israel.

The Kashmir Files was one among three Indian films that were part of the Indian Panorama Section at IFFI on November 22, and was competing against 14 other films in the International Competition. The winner takes home the Golden Peacock title. 

As part of the jury, Lapid had no hand in the selection process, and was presented with the 15 films — including The Kashmir Files — at the festival. The winning film was the Spanish offering, I Have Electric Dreams. 

Kamalakannan’s Kurangu Pedal and Anant Mahadevan’s The Storyteller, starring Paresh Rawal, were the other two Indian films on the list.

Apart from Sen and Lapid, the jury comprised American producer Jinko Gotoh, French documentary filmmaker and critic Javier Angulo Barturen, and French editor Pascale Chavance.

Agnihotri’s The Kashmir Files, a retelling of the Kashmiri Pandits’ exodus in the ‘90s, showcases the pain and suffering of the community. The narration develops around the protagonist, Krishna, a young college student who sets out to discover the truth about the untimely demise of his parents.

Anupam Kher took to Twitter to share: “No matter how high the height of the lie is, it is always small in comparison to the truth.” In a video clip, he stated that “some individuals find it difficult to come to terms with the truth about Kashmir, and wish to perceive it through a positive lens”.

Darshan Kumaar claimed that the film depicted the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits community, who continue to fight for justice against the brutal acts of terrorism.

Director Vivek Agnihotri also shared his opinions on social media, and added that he would quit filmmaking if anyone could prove that the film was untrue.

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The closing ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is making headlines because of a statement made by jury head Nadav Lapid. The Israeli screenwriter criticised the film The Kashmir Files (TKF) that was screened at the festival, saying, “That felt to us like a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival.” Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the film is claimed to be a fictional representation of the ’90s exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir.

The Israel ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, reacted sharply to Lapid’s comments. He tweeted, “In Indian culture they say that a guest is like God. You have abused in the worst way the Indian invitation to chair the panel of judges at @IFFIGoa as well as the trust, respect and warm hospitality they have bestowed on you.”

Director Sudipto Sen, who was the only Indian member in the jury, took to Twitter to point out the films’ “subjective interpretations”.

Soon after Lapid’s speech surfaced online, social media was abuzz, with people associated with the film or in support of TKF expressing anger towards the comment. In a press conference with Consulate General of Israel, Kobbi Shoshani, actor Anupam Kher, who played the lead role in the film, said, “If he does not like a film, he is most welcome to say it. But if you’re a jury member, you cannot use words like ‘vulgar’ and ‘propaganda’. It’s a vulgar remark by a person who is vulgar and an opportunist.”

Actor Darshan Kumaar, who was also a part of the film, told ANI, “Everyone has their own individual opinions on anything they see and perceive. But one can’t deny the fact is that TKF depicted the actual plight of the Kashmiri Pandit community.”

The film’s producer, Pallavi Joshi, shared on Instagram: “It is unjust and unacceptable to stain one of the finest films of the Indian cinema with vulgar comments that delineate the harsh reality of a segment of our nation.”

In a video shared with us, Agnihotri said, “...Mere liye aashcharyajanak baat ye hai ki Bharat sarkar dwara aayojit Bharat sarkar ke manch pe Kashmir ko Bharat se alag karne wale terrorists ke narrative ko support kiya gaya... Main challenge karta hoon ki The Kashmir Files ke ek shot, ek dialogue ya event ko koi prove kar de, ki yeh poori tarah se satya nahin hai, toh main filmein banana chhod dunga (sic).”

I am angry at people who appointed him as the jury head. This man has lowered the level and insulted IFFI. The seriousness of the festival is questionable now.

I was totally flummoxed by the comment. There was a pre-selection jury, before it came to the international selection jury. To single out one film and make such comments was a shock. It puts the whole concept of independent cinema in the dock. On the one hand, you talk about creative freedom and independence of cinema. But when such incidents occur, the independence of cinema takes a beating. When we see a film, we may creatively disagree with it, but we never compromise on the process of jury selection.

I am very proud of Pallavi (Joshi; producer-actor), Vivek (Agnihotri; director-producer) and the entire team — Kher saab, Mithun da (Mithun Chakraborty) and Darshan Kumaar. We don’t even need to talk much about this. The world is talking about it. A Rs. 15 crores film did a business of Rs. 350 crores!