Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid says speaking out against 'The Kashmir Files' was ‘not easy’

IFFI jury head and Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who is embroiled in a controversy after his remarks on ‘The Kashmir Files’ at the International Film Festival of India, has said that speaking out against the film was ‘not easy’ and he was apprehensive about it.

In an interview with Israeli outlet Ynet, the filmmaker said that after watching the film he was struck by how blatantly it adheres to the government line on Kashmir. Lapid said that the Vivek Agnihotri directorial ‘justifies the Indian policy in Kashmir, and it has fascist features’. He added that he won’t be surprised if a film like this is made in Israel in the next couple of years.

When asked what went through his mind before he made this remark, and if he knew his words would spark controversy, he said, ‘I knew that this was an event that is terribly connected to the country, and everyone stands there and praises the government. It is not an easy position, because you are a guest, I am the president of the jury here, you are treated very nicely. And then you come and attack the festival. There was apprehension, and there was discomfort. I didn’t know what the dimensions would be, so I did it with some apprehension. Yes, I spent the day apprehensive. Let’s put it this way: I’m happy to be on my way to the airport now.’

Lapid said that following his speech, people approached him and thanked him for what he said.

‘It was a hall with thousands of people, and everyone was ecstatic to see the local stars and cheer for the government. In countries that are increasingly losing the ability to speak your mind or speak the truth, someone needs to speak up. When I saw this movie, I couldn’t help but imagine its Israeli equivalent, which doesn’t exist but could definitely exist. So I felt I had to, because I come from a place that is itself not reformed, and is itself on the way to these places,’ he told Ynet.

For the unversed, at IFFI’s closing ceremony on Monday, Lapid, who was serving as the president of the jury, called ‘The Kashmir Files’ ‘vulgar, propaganda’.

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