Israeli officials slam director over ‘propaganda’ allegation — RT Games & Culture
Israeli officials have ripped fellow filmmaker Nadav Lapid after condemning popular Indian film The Kashmir Files as “Propaganda » and « vulgarin front of an audience at the International Film Festival of India in Goa. Lapid had been asked to head the jury for the festival, which is government-funded and has many politicians and other personalities among its attendees.
« We were all confused and shocked by the 15th film, The Kashmir Files, which we felt was a propaganda, vulgar, inappropriate film for a competitive artistic section of such a prestigious film festival.said Lapid during the closing ceremony. The film depicts the flight of Hindus from Kashmir in the 1990s amid an armed Muslim uprising and has galvanized Islamophobic sentiment in the country.
« You should be ashamed,” Lapid chided via a tweet on Tuesday, accusing the filmmaker of abusing “trust, respect and warm welcome [the International Film Festival of India] granted to » him.
« It is insensitive and presumptuous to talk about historical events before studying them in depth and which is an open wound in India as many of those involved are still there and still paying the price.Gilon continued, suggesting that by publicly denigrating The Kashmir Files’ version of the story, Lapid was encouraging Indians to question the Holocaust.
Former Ambassador to India Danny Carmon agreed, calling on Lapid to « apologize for personal comments on historical facts without sensitivity and without knowing what he is talking about.” Israel’s Consul General in India’s Midwest, Kobbi Shoshani, was quick to reassure local media that Lapid’s words were « not the opinion or attitude of the government of Israel», declaring «we absolutely do not accept such speeches.”
While Lapid clarified that he intended his comment as artistic rather than personal criticism – « I feel quite comfortable to openly share these feelings here with you on stage because the spirit of the festival can really accept critical discussion as well, which is essential for art and for life.he said – that did little to blunt the attacks that came his way, from Indians and Israelis alike.
Lapid has been denounced as « a hindu hate fanatic who whitewashes ethnic cleansing » and like « no less than a nazi enablerby Abhinav Prakash, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha youth movement, while Aditya Raj Kaul, TV9 network editor, wondered if the filmmaker would « call the Holocaust propaganda [sic]or say the same about the Holocaust films Schindler’s List and The Pianist.
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