Anti-Muslim film ‘The Kashmir Files’ use of Faiz’s ‘Hum Dekhenge’ leaves netizens livid

The revolutionary poem was a mainstay of anti-CAA student protests in India

Zee Music released a video of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s revolutionary poem Hum Dekhenge from the anti-Muslim film The Kashmir Files, the irony of which was not lost on social media users. Many even called out the producers for "theft". Especially since the film, starring Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, has been termed “the biggest lie of the century” and a work of “historical revisionism” due to its right-wing nature and storyline.

The hard-hitting song #HumDekhenge from #TheKashmirFiles will touch your hearts. SONG OUT NOW!https://t.co/XAn54dvqcG@mithunda_off @AnupamPKher @DarshanKumaar #ChinmayMandlekar @vivekagnihotri @ImPuneetIssar @bhashasumbli #PrakashBelawadi @AtulShree62 @mrinal_kulkarni pic.twitter.com/GIyeNb5If4

— Zee Music Company (@ZeeMusicCompany) March 16, 2022

The anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan film follows the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus during the Kashmir Insurgency. Screenings of The Kashmir Files in India have led to anti-Muslim chanting in cinemas. It has also been claimed by filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri that permission to use the song was sought out. Tweeting in response to allegations of plagiarism, he wrote, “We have officially taken rights of Faiz Sahab’s poetry from the Faiz House in Lahore. Please don’t spread fake news.”

We have officially taken rights of Faiz Sahab’s poetry from the Faiz House in Lahore. Please don’t spread fake news. https://t.co/TCcS2nBNhY

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) March 19, 2022

However, many are angry, and rightfully so, that “Even Faiz isn't spared in BJP's bid to distort history to promote this revisionist propaganda,” as pointed out by a user.

Even Faiz isn't spared in the BJP's bid to distort history and promote this revisionist propaganda. https://t.co/bhIWmIVMw0

— Fahd Humayun (@fahdhumayun) March 19, 2022

Faiz must be turning in his grave today. An anti oppression, resistance anthem, used for a propaganda film against the oppressed. Faiz ko tou baksh daitay! 🙏🏼 https://t.co/bx0t4kez8y

— Saman Tariq (@stariq88) March 19, 2022

On the appropriation of the verses, a netizen added, "Orwell's 1984 illustrates how evil can co-opt symbolisms of good like 'war is peace' or [how] Hitler, Nazis used the Swastika, a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Buddhism etc. Absolutely disgusting, an insult to Faiz sahab. India needs soul searching.”

Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four illustrates how evil can co-opt symbolisms of good like 'war is peace' or Hitler, Nazis used the Swastika, a symbol a symbol of divinity and spirituality in Buddhism etc.

Absolutely disgusting, an insult to Faiz shb. India needs soul searching. https://t.co/mpByRG2Dgb

— Mirror of Erised (@dontyousayso77) March 19, 2022

The Kashmir Files sees the revolutionary song being sung by students protesting for freedom in Kashmir, which is portrayed in a negative light. A user tweeted, “This framing of the song as the anthem of the 'enemy' is incredibly vicious and ill-intentioned. And obviously meant to frame the anti-CAA protests as being villainous”

Also this framing of the song as the anthem of the 'enemy' is incredibly vicious and ill-intentioned. And obviously meant to frame the anti-CAA protests as being villainous

— Neerja (@neerjadeodhar) March 17, 2022

In 2020, the poem was used during the protests in India against the communal Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens which aimed to establish a clear bias against the country’s Muslim population. It was sung by numerous students outside campuses who refused to follow BJP’s decisions. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur had even constituted a panel to decide whether the revolutionary poem was offensive to Hindu sentiments, NDTV reported.

using a faiz ghazal for anti-pakistani, anti-muslim propaganda must be one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen https://t.co/YoF5yQGukU

— sohni (@sohnianika) March 19, 2022

A user tweeted, “Faiz sahab joined the British Army to fight the Nazis. He was a committed Marxist and the greatest voice against oppression and exploitation. His poem, which is a symbol of resistance against religious fundamentalism with Marxist metaphors is [being] used by neo-Nazis for propaganda.”

Faiz sahab joined the British Army to fight the Nazis . He was a committed Marxist and the greatest voice against oppression /exploitation.His poem ,which itself is a symbol of resistance against religious fundamentalism with Marxist metaphors is used by neo-Nazis for propaganda. https://t.co/FS2Yi4HbRi

— Shivam (@shivam_atheist) March 19, 2022

Written, directed by Agnihotri and produced by Zee Studios, the film also stars Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi. It was declared tax-free in all the states ruled by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and has now become a box office success. While the performance of the cast was described as "compelling", particularly that of Kher's, the film has been dubbed a work of "historical revisionism," by many Indian critics as well. Many have acknowledged it as a propaganda aimed at fostering prejudice against Muslims.

While actors like Kangana Ranaut called out Bollywood for not praising The Kashmir Files, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Chaudhry Yaseen termed it the biggest lie of the century and an attempt to hoodwink the world on the indigenous struggle of the Kashmiris.

Kangana had maintained, "Please notice the pin drop silence in the film industry about #thekashmirfiles, not just content, even its business is exemplary. It also broke many myths about theatres being exclusive for big budgets, event films or visual/VFX spectacles post pandemic. It is breaking every myth and preconceived notion that was there and bringing back the audiences to the theatres, 6am shows in multiplexes are full, it's unbelievable!" Prior to this, Kangana had also called The Kashmir Files "the most important film of the year."

Chaudhry Yaseen, albeit, stated last week, “Kashmiri Pundits were forced to migrate by the then Governor of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Jagmohan Malhotra with the intention to do ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Muslims in 1990s. Through the controversial movie, Indian extremist government wants to create hatred against Muslim across India aimed at paving the way for another genocide in future.”

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 the screening of The Kashmir Files had also surfaced on March 15. 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."