Director Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ is getting a tremendous response from the audience in India. Audiences are liking this film very much and the film is getting huge benefit of mouth publicity. However, the film is also being opposed by some people. There is a controversy about the film even in the farthest New Zealand. Controversy has erupted in New Zealand over ‘The Kashmir Files’. The country’s censor chief is reviewing the film’s certificate, which has been criticized by the former deputy prime minister.
exodus of kashmiri hindus
The Kashmir Files, written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. The country’s censor chief David Shanks is reviewing the film’s R16 certificate after the Muslim community expressed concerns over the film, which is set to release on March 24, a New Zealand news agency reported on Saturday. According to the New Zealand Classification Office, the R16 certificate mandates that children under the age of 16 cannot watch a film without adult supervision.
There is no ban on the film in the country.
Shanks told the media outlet that the certification office’s move does not mean the film is being banned in the country. He said members of the Muslim community have contacted him and expressed concern that the film may “increase anti-Muslim sentiment and hatred”. Shanks said the situation is complicated because community concerns are more about the post-film reaction than the film’s content. He said the concerns were genuine and serious. Hence there is a need to review. Shanks said the film was issued a preliminary certificate without knowing these concerns.
Winston Peters criticized
The move by the censor chief has been criticized by the country’s former deputy prime minister and leader of the political party New Zealand First, Winston Peters. He wrote on Facebook, ‘Another attack on the liberties of New Zealanders. Censoring this film is tantamount to censoring information and photographs of the atrocities on March 15 in New Zealand or photographs or information of the 9/11 attacks. Peters was referring to the March 15, 2019, attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed and 40 were injured when a gunman opened fire.
What did Vivek say on the country’s dispute
At the same time, on the controversy arising in the country regarding the film, Vivek Agnihotri said in a press conference, ‘There is no controversy in the film. Can there be any dispute on terrorism? Actually Kashmir is a business and many people’s shops are being closed due to this film, that is why controversy is arising. This world is divided into classes of humanitarians and those of terrorism. People of humanity are watching this film by putting lines while people of terrorism are spreading propaganda against it.
the film opened my eyes
Vivek Agnihotri claimed that The Kashmir Files is connecting every section of the country. The film has broken the old stereotype of making films a hit and has shown new avenues for the entertainment industry’s economy. Asked about Shiv Sena’s allegations of showing half truth in The Kashmir Files film, Agnihotri did not give a direct reply saying, “Only one who knows the whole truth has the right to speak about half truth.” It is not that this film is running because of controversy. The purpose for which I made the film is being fulfilled. Those who did not listen to the killing of Kashmiri Pandits, this film has opened their eyes.