'The Kashmir Files' director criticised for 'wasting tax money' on security after film's release

Vivek Agnihotri's directorial venture The Kashmir Files has been in the headlines since its release. The film, which released in the theatres on March 11, continues to make noise and this time around it is Vivek who has been receiving flak over the security provided to him following the film’s release.

The film is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus during the Kashmir insurgency in 1990. After the project hit theatres, Vivek was granted Y-category security cover. It involves the deployment of four to five armed commandos in close proximity of the protectee. The filmmaker has now shared a video from his morning walk, with security guards surrounding him, creating an uproar on social media.

He wrote along with the video on Twitter, "The price one has to pay to show the Genocide of Hindus in Kashmir. In a Hindu majority country. Freedom of expression, ha! #ImprisonedInOwnCountry #Fatwa."

Reacting to the video, netizens called the use of Y-security for Vivek 'wastage of taxpayers' money'. Clapping back, the director then shared a picture of a heavily guarded street in Kashmir and wrote, “Tax payers’ money is used here to combat religious terrorism. If this stops, I can also live freely. #Kashmir."

On the work front, Vivek is shooting for his film The Vaccine War. The film, revolving around the coronavirus vaccine in India, went on the floors earlier this month, and will be released in cinemas on August 15, 2023 in 11 languages.

Earlier this month, Indian screenwriter Saeed Akhtar Mirza shared his unbiased two cents on The Kashmir Files. Talking to The Indian Express about the controversial film, Saeed called it plain ‘garbage’. He said, “For me, The Kashmir Files is garbage. Is the Kashmiri Pandit issue garbage? No, it’s not. It’s real. Is it just Kashmiri Hindus? No. Muslims, too, are caught in an incredibly vulgar trap of the machinations of intelligence agencies, nations with so-called national interests, and paid guys from across the border, who continue to create havoc.”

Saeed went on to urge the audiences and filmmakers to not take sides but “be human and try to understand” history and not give in to propaganda ideas.

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