movie review

The Kashmir Files Movie Review : The Kashmir Files is an unfiltered, disturbing plea to be heard

 Story: Based on a true story, the upsetting movie highlights the struggle of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus), a religious minority who were forced to evacuate their homes by Islamic extremists in the Kashmir valley in the 1990s.

Based on the testimonies of the survivors and depicting them as refugees in their own nation, the movie makes a compelling case that this wasn't just an exodus but a brutal genocide that is still being covered up for political reasons. The Kashmiri Pandits (KP), who have spent nearly 30 years in exile and have seen locals encroach on their homes and businesses, yet hold out hope for justice and, more significantly, for recognition. It's odd that despite the horrific effects this catastrophe had on the evacuated families, not many movies have addressed it.

Any ideology, creed, or suffering seems to be a shared horror when voices are silenced. Humanitarian catastrophe, cross-border terrorism, separatist movements, and the battle for self-determination are issues that Kashmir, a lost paradise, has to deal with. The Kashmir Files rips off the bandage on this once-prosperous, multi-cultural region that is now a contested territory that fights to stabilize itself despite the ongoing turmoil. We attempt to uncover the truth in a little under three hours. But every truth has two sides, as the saying goes.

The exodus and its aftermath are revisited in the dramatic and fairly brutal film by Vivek Agnihotri. It demonstrates the brutalities experienced by KPs as a result of their religion based on verified reports. Whether it was the killing of telecom engineer BK Ganjoo in a rice barrel, the massacre of 24 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits in Nadimarg by terrorists wearing war gear, or offensive shouts. The movie depicts these actual events as seen through the eyes of Pushkar Nath Pandit, an aging nationalist played by Anupam Kher, his four closest friends, and his ambiguous grandson Krishna (Darshan Kumaar). Krishna's search for the truth, which he is unaware of, is what makes the story.

Although reopening old wounds may not provide relief, healing can only take place once the pain has been accepted. Agnihotri goes above and above without diluting the events, which makes his movie exciting to watch. He chooses shock over nuance. He-said-she-said narration and sometimes convoluted storytelling prevent you from empathizing with the characters or comprehending their motivations. Digs at JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University), media comparisons to terrorists, selective international media reporting, the Indian Army, political conflict, the repeal of Article 370, and the mythology and early history of Kashmir are all topics that the movie briefly touches on. You will be moved to tears by Pushkar Nath Pandit's story, but the movie loses track of him somewhere in the chaos.

Your throat catches a lump after watching Anupam Kher's heartbreaking performance. Kher excels as a man longing for his former home. Pallavi Joshi is also successful. Given her talent as an actor, you wished her character had more nuance. Both Mithun Chakraborty and Chinmay Mandlekar are capable in their respective positions.

Shikara, a romantic drama by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, drew criticism for not being the untold tale of Kashmiri Pandits as it was advertised to the audience. However, it brought you even closer to their culture, suffering, and despair. Vivek Agnihotri fails to avoid the threat. He brings politics and militant behavior to the fore. In the background, the anguish of being uprooted from your home looms...

link source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/the-kashmir-files/movie-                                                    review/90110494.cms