Why Award For ‘The Kashmir Files’ Gets Criticized?

Film awards in our country are never devoid of controversies. Like every year, the 69th National Film Awards that were announced a couple of days ago also sparked a nationwide debate from different quarters across the country. One of the main reasons why these awards triggered a huge row this year is because of Vivek Agnihotri’s controversial film ‘The Kashmir Files’.

It is a known fact that the jury selected ‘ The Kashmir Files’ for the Nargis Dutt Award as Best Feature Film in National Integration. This selection drew scathing remarks because it appeared to be an ironic decision. The Kashmir Files, which portrayed the plight of Kashmiri pundits when insurgency peaked in Jammu and Kashmir, was labelled as a propaganda film against the Muslim community by many critics. There was a huge backlash at the time of the film’s release because many opined that a biased approach by the director would spread communal hatred across the country.

Even though the film emerged as a box office blockbuster, there were widespread protests against the film and calls for a blanket ban on its release. Even some of the political bigwigs like Tamil Nadu CM Stalin have lashed out at the makers saying it was a film with a malafide agenda.

Now, critics are expressing dissent over the decision of the jury to select such a controversial film under the ‘The National Integration’ category. Many have pointed out their choice as nothing but pure mockery. In the past, deserving films like Roja, Bombay, Sapthapadi, Rudraveena, Border, Mr. and Mrs. Iyer and Shaheed Uddham Singh, etc. won awards in the same category for promoting human values, national harmony and unity in diversity without creating any controversies. But, The Kashmir Files pales in comparison to those films says opponents.

It is an open secret from the very day The Kashmir Files was announced, reportedly it has got the support of the ruling government at the center because. Some of the politicians belonging to the BJP have openly promoted the film after its release as well. So, one cannot rule out the political affiliation behind recognising the film as ‘The Best Film in the National Integration’. It is high time the jury shouldn’t be swayed away political ideologies because films need to promote culture and harmony instead of hate and discord.