Vishal Bhardwaj avoids controversial films 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story' to maintain peace

National award-winning filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has revealed that he intentionally avoided watching movies like 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story' due to their sensitive subject matter. Both films, despite being huge commercial successes, sparked political controversies, with critics from the opposition branding them as propaganda.


In conversation with PTI, Bhardwaj explained, "I didn't see 'The Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story,' and I didn't see them consciously. The kind of things I was hearing about these films, I didn't want to get impacted by them. I was hearing that they were propaganda films from my friends and people I know. So, I just wanted to stay out of it because, for me, it is a very sensitive subject. If there's so much negativity, I want to remain out of it. I love my peace. So, I didn't want to see them."

'The Kashmir Files,' directed by Vivek Agnihotri and starring Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi, revolves around the harrowing exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s. The film garnered immense attention and stirred debates over its portrayal of historical events.

Similarly, 'The Kerala Story,' directed by Sudipto Sen, sheds light on the plight of women from Kerala who were coerced into conversion and recruited by the terrorist group Islamic State (IS). The film's subject matter touched upon sensitive issues and generated discussions on the portrayal of real-life events.


Vishal Bhardwaj, known for his critically acclaimed film 'Haider,' which explored the Kashmir conflict, is no stranger to addressing complex and sensitive subjects through his work. However, his decision to abstain from watching these recent controversial films reflects his desire to maintain a sense of peace and detachment from the negativity surrounding them.


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