Unlike Kangana Ranaut, Bollywood actor Swara Bhasker recently took an indirect dig at The Kashmir Files maker Vivek Agnihotri, as per Times of India. Written, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, the film stars Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi.
It was declared tax-free in all Indian states ruled by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has now become a box office hit. While the performances of the cast were described as "compelling", particularly that of Kher's, the film is also being dubbed a work of "historical revisionism," with many Indian critics acknowledging it as a propaganda aimed at fostering prejudice against Muslims.
Taking to Twitter, Swara tweeted, “If you want someone to congratulate you for the ‘success’ of your efforts, maybe don’t spend five years shitting on their heads." While the actor’s tweet came without a name, trolls were quick to attack her for attempting to criticise Vivek.
If you want someone to congratulate you for the ‘success’ of your efforts.. maybe don’t spend the last five years shitting on their heads.. šš¾āļø #justsaying
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) March 13, 2022
A user wrote, “I think you got it all wrong Swara. People are asking why prominent Bollywood stars haven't said a word of appreciation about a film that brought people back to the cinemas. Operative word being ‘prominent’, you can chill.” Several came to The Kashmir Files’ defence too. A user commented, “Kindly find some time and see The Kashmir Files. Then ask for proof and evidences of the genocide in Kashmir in the 1990. You may shoot sequel of the film, Jai Hind.” One more reiterated, “Don't think anyone asked you, Swara.” Derogatory comments targeting the actor’s personal life also surfaced. “Oh, this sick mindset of the self-proclaimed important people of the society, they think their view matters, bloody pink panther of Bhatkal's and Menon's.”
But while The Kashmir Files is being praised by viewers in India since its release on March 11, with celebs like Akshay Kumar, Hansal Mehta, Yami Gautam, Kangana Ranaut and many others, also lauding its depictions, many have called it out for twisting the truth.
Professor for Peace and Conflict, Ashok Swain tweeted, “If Hindus were peaceful, who killed the 430 Muslims in 1969 Gujarat riots, 400 Muslims in 1980 Moradabad riots, 2,191 Muslims in 1983 Nellie Massacre, 3,000+ Sikhs in 1984 Sikh Riots, 900 Muslims in 1989 Bhagalpur violence, 575 Muslims in 1992-3 Bombay Riots, 2,000 Muslims in 2002 Gujarat Riots, 42 Muslims in 2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots. It is important to remember all these killings in India when the country and regime are outraged over the killings of 89 Kashmir pandits in the last 30 years.”
Rahul Desai, reviewing for the Film Companion, found The Kashmir Files to be a "fantasy-revisionist rant lacking in clarity, craft, and sense, where every Muslim was a Nazi and every Hindu, a Jew. With an unconvincing screenplay and weak characters, it was propaganda that strove only to tune in with the Hindu Nationalist mood of the nation.” Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express also called it a work of propaganda aligned with BJP’s discourse that only aimed to stoke the "deep-seated anger" of Pandits while tapping into the grief of a displaced community.
Videos of Indian cinemas roaring with murderous, anti-Muslim chants after screening The Kashmir Files also surfaced on social media on Tuesday. Indian journalist Fatima Khan of The Quint tweeted, "The movie is doing exactly what it was meant to. Absolutely terrifying scenes playing out in theatres: murderous chants, hateful sloganeering, calls to stay away from Muslims etc. Sick."
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