IFFI jury distances itself from Nadav Lapid’s remarks of ‘The Kashmir Files’

Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid sparked a controversy after he termed Vivek Agnihotri’s film ‘The Kashmir Files’ ‘vulgar and propaganda’ during the closing ceremony of the 53rd International Film Festival of India. However, the jury board of the IFFI has distanced itself from its chief. Sudipto Sen, a member of the jury, has tweeted the board’s statement, saying the comments were Nadav’s opinions and not a collective opinion of the group.

Sudipto wrote, ‘Whatever has been said by IFFI 2022 Jury Chairman Mr. Nadav Lapid about the film Kashmir Files, from the stage of closing ceremony of 53-rd IFFI was completely his personal opinion. In the official presentation of the Jury Board to the Festival Director and in the official Press Conference, where we 4 juries (the fifth jury had to leave for her personal emergency) were present and interacted with the press, we never mentioned anything about our likes or dislikes. Both were our official collective opinion’.

In his note, he added, ‘As juror, 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 personal capacity – nothing to do with the esteemed Jury Board’.

During his speech, Nadav Lapid said they were disturbed and shocked by the 15th film, ‘The Kashmir Files’ which felt to them like a ‘propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival’.

The Ambassador of Israel to India, Naor Gilon, ‘The Kashmir Files’ actors Anupam Kher and Ranvir Shorey have criticised Nadav’s comments.

‘The Kashmir Files’ is one of highest grossing Hindi films of this year. It was made tax-free in several states in India.

Also Watch | IFFI jury head calls ‘The Kashmir Files’ ‘propaganda’: Anupam Kher, Ashok Pandit, Ranvir Shorey react