New Delhi: Vivek Agnihotri's historical drama “The Kashmir Files” since its release has been a polarizing subject. Though receiving great public and critical acclaim, it has been panned by a certain section of media, academia and politicians who have actively campaigned against it and called it a “propaganda film”.
The ruling NDA government and the BJP on the other hand have actively campaigned in favour of the movie making it tax free in various BJP states.
It is in this context, under a heated political atmosphere that Indian Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu has spoken out against those who have gone to disparage the film saying that “The Kashmir Files” is a purely factual depiction of the events of 90s and should not be politicized by Opposition members.
"Public has taken the documentation of the film 'The Kashmir Files' in a positive manner. There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm among the people and it has nothing to do with politics. Unfortunately, in our country, people have the tendency to politicise everything and make everything controversial, and also try to give it a political colour. What is political colour, factual, actual and textual. Things being presented to the people why should there be any politics?" he said at a conference on Thursday.
VP Naidu's comments come at a time when the BJP has been locking horns with the Opposition over the film and has been voicing support for the film and raising the matter of the Kashmiri Pandits exodus and genocide in the Parliament.
On the other hand, opposition parties such as the Indian National Congress, Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party along with several others have come forward criticising the film, accusing the BJP of using the Kashmiri Hindu suffering as a vote bank.
In the meanwhile, “The Kashmir Files” has become a massive hit across the country kickstarting debates and going housefull. As of now the film has internationally crossed the Rs 300 crore mark and alongside “RRR” is dominating the Indian box office.
The film was released on March 11 and stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Chinmay Mandlekar, Puneet Issar, Darshan Kumar, Atul Shrivastava, Prakash Belawadi and Bhasha Sumbli. (UNI)
