On Saturday (March 12), Supreme Court advocate J Sai Deepak thanked director Vivek Agnihotri for ‘The Kashmir Files’ and urged his followers to support the movie wholeheartedly.
In a tweet, he wrote, “…I repeat nothing, could have prepared me for the visceral impact of The Kashmir Files. As a hardcore movie buff, if there is a movie in my memory that captures d sheer power of d cinematic medium to give expression to facts, it has to be The Kashmir Files”.
J Sai Deepak pointed out that the makers of the film were confident about their research and that they refrained from putting up ‘escapist’ and ‘evasive’ disclaimers at the very start.
3. The confidence of the makers of this movie is evident right from the word go. As opposed to the usual escapist and evasive disclaimers, this movie’s disclaimer does not distance the makers from the movie. Instead,they own upto it.That shows how their faith in their research.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
The Supreme Court advocate had appreciated the non-linear style of movie narration, which was adopted by director Vivek Agnihotri for ‘The Kashmir Files’. He emphasised that the story constantly revolved between the past and present and that proved effective in showcasing the genocide committed against the Kashmiri Hindu Pandits.
“The way the movie brings together Kashmir, student politics, education, the Marxist negation of documented facts & its extra-warm relations wid Islamists is a testament to the work Vivek Agnihotri has put in over the years. In that sense, this movie is the culmination of his previous efforts,” he added.
6.The way d movie brings together Kashmir,student politics,education,Marxist negation of documented facts & its extra-warm relations wid Islamists is a testament to the work @vivekagnihotri has put in over d years. In that sense,this movie is culmination of his previous efforts.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
J Sai Deepak then pointed out how each character in ‘The Kashmir Files’ reflected a generation of Kashmir and its respective vantage point. “Effectively three generations have been captured in the movie, telling us that three generations of Kashmiri Pandits have suffered in independent Bharat,” he added.
The Supreme Court advocate also emphasised why remembering history and its periodic reinforcement is essential to ensure that the lived experiences of victims are not denied in society.
8.The absolute need for memorialisation of history is brilliantly captured in d scenes between @AnupamPKher & his grandson played by @DarshanKumaar.Failure to memorialise leads to movement away from d roots & *denial* of d lived experience,reinforcing d importance of history edu.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
“The naming of the characters, from Pushkar Nath Pandit to Sharda Pandit to Bitta and Radhika Menon, and the use of these fused characters to represent multiple real personalities is a testament to Team Vivek Agnihotri’s deep emotional and intellectual investment in the movie,” he said.
J Sai Deepak further remarked, “The movie is not a mere collage of known events. Even that would (have) been an achievement given the current state of Bollywood. But the movie goes much beyond that & invests in multiple layers in every scene, from faith to loss of the home to hope to the realisation of apathy & finally the denial.”
10.The movie is not a mere collage of known events. Even that wuda been an achievement given d current state of Bollywood.But d movie goes much beyond that & invests in multiple layers in every scene,from faith to loss of home to hope to realisation of apathy & finally d denial.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
The Supreme Court advocate was in awe of the cast of ‘The Kashmir Files’. He tweeted, “I think everyone who was part of this movie consciously embraced the trauma and chose to channel it…If watching the movie has such a deep impact, I can’t begin to imagine what making it & playing the characters would (have) done to those involved.”
12. If watching d movie has such a deep impact, I can’t begin to imagine what making it & playing d characters wuda done to those involved. Either they have allowed the experience to do its job whatever the consequence, or they would have had to practice detached attachment.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
J Sai Deepak conceded that he could not hold back his emotions after watching the film, despite years of training to the contrary.
“Some dear friends have often called me a *robot*, but this movie shattered the robotic barrier…This movie is as real and as authentic as it gets & I think deep gratitude is in order for d super talented cast of the movie,” he wrote.
14. This movie is as real and as authentic as it gets & I think deep gratitude are in order for d super talented cast of the movie. On this front, one *has* to start with @AnupamPKher ji. Sir, please accept my pranams and dhanyawaad for being, not playing, Pushkar Nath Pandit.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
He was also in awe of Bollywood actor Anupam Kher for playing the character of one ‘Pushkar Nath Pandit’. The ‘realistic’ performance of the veteran actor in the movie swayed J Sai Deepak.
“This has to count as Anupam Kher ji’s finest work ever. Even if he manages to do a better job in any other movie, which I doubt is possible, nothing is ever going to come close to this role. He was born for this role. It seems as if his life journey prepared him for this role,” he added.
“For once, I don’t have the words to capture Anupam Kher Ji’s performance except to say that his character spoke to me like an elder from my own family. He has channelled his heritage & the pain of our people through this performance. To me, his Karmic account has been settled,” the advocate continued.
16.For once,I don’t have d words to capture @AnupamPKher ji’s performance except to say tht his character spoke to me like an elder from my own family.He has channeled his heritage & d pain of his ppl,*our ppl*,thru this performance. To me,his Karmic account has been settled.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
While speaking about the performance of actress Bhasha Sumbli, he tweeted, “Aptly named *Sharda* in the movie, she represents not just the trauma suffered by the women of the Kashmiri Pandit community, but the genocide of all that Sharda stands for – spirituality, knowledge, family, language, script- Civilisation.”
J Sai Deepak emphasised, “From being forced to eat rice soaked in the blood of her husband to the prescient passing image of the *saw mill* when she drops her son Shiva at the school, you know all through the movie what she is going to be put through & you brace yourself for it. And even that doesn’t prepare you.
18. From being forced to eat rice soaked in d blood of her husband to the prescient passing image of the *saw mill* when she drops her son Shiva at the school, you know all thru the movie what she is going to be put thru & U brace yourself for it.And even that doesn’t prepare U.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
He had also applauded the performances of actors Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Chinmay Mandlekar and Darshan Kumar.
“As for the rest of the cast, Puneet Issar, Prakash Belawadi and others provide the perfect supporting foil through their representation of the role of the State establishment and media during the *genocide*, not exodus, of Kashmiri Pandits,” he pointed out.
The Supreme court advocate further added, “What’s poignant throughout the movie is that the characters keep chanting Om Namah Shivay, even when their end is near. The punarsthapana of the Shiva Linga by the third generation of Pandits after the amendment to Article 370 represents Civilisational hope and resurgence.”
26. What’s poignant throughout the movie is that d characters keep chanting Om Namah Shivay, even when their end is near. The punarsthapana of the Shiva Linga by the third generation of Pandits after the amendment to Article 370 represents Civilisational hope and resurgence.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
Lastly, he said, “This generation finally has the good fortune of seeing this Civilisation’s history being captured on the big screen by gutsy and brilliant filmmakers such as Vivek Agnihotri. It’s time to push the Overton Window further in favour of Dharma and Desha.”
“If you believe that you don’t have the guts to watch this movie, effectively you have lost the right to opine on this Civilisation. If you can’t even watch, you can’t be expected to stand up for Civilisation when the time comes. So grow a spine, watch, internalise & channel,” concluded J Sai Deepak.
30. If you believe that you don’t have the guts to watch this movie,effectively you have lost the right to opine on this Civilisation.If you can’t even watch,you can’t be expected to stand up for the Civilisation when the time comes. So grow a spine, watch, internalise & channel.
— Sai Deepak J (@jsaideepak) March 12, 2022
‘The Kashmir Files‘ film is based on the genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus by the fanatic Islamists in Kashmir in 1990 and the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus following that. The film stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumar, Chinmay Mandlekar, and Mrinal Kulkarni are in lead roles.
The film was opposed by many Islamists before its release. A petition was also filed in the Bombay high court after the trailer of the film was published on YouTube. The petition sought a ban on the release of the film citing that it could potentially hurt the sentiments of the Muslims in the country.
The Bombay high court had dismissed the petition clearing the way of releasing the film ‘The Kashmir Files’.
