Misc. 152: Art versus Craft

Unfazed by the widespread criticism of his comments against the Hindi film ” The Kashmir Files“, Israeli director and IFFI international jury chair Nadav Lapid said he stands by his remarks as he “knows how to recognise propaganda disguised as a movie”.

“Making bad films is not a crime, but this is a very crude, manipulative and violent propaganda film,” Mr. Lapid said in an interview with Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz.

According to the filmmaker, he felt it was his “duty” to speak his mind as the head of the international jury.

“The truth is that I also couldn’t help but imagine a similar situation that might happen one day soon in Israel, and I would be happy that in such a situation the head of a foreign jury would be willing to say things as he sees them. In a way, I felt it was my duty to the place that invited me,” he said.

The award-winning filmmaker had called out ” The Kashmir Files“, which was screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 22 under the Indian Panorama section, at the closing ceremony of the nine-day festival in Goa on Monday.

The team of ” The Kashmir Files“, including writer-director Agnihotri, stars Anupam Kher and Pallavi Joshi, several BJP leaders including Goa CM Pramod Sawant as well as Israel’s Ambassador to India Naor Gilon and Consul General to Midwest India Kobbi Shoshani panned Mr. Lapid.

______________________________________________________________