The Kashmir Pulse

NEW DELHI — After the recent controversy surrounding ‘The Kerala Story’, another film titled ’72 Hoorain’ directed by Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan is poised to spark further debates. However, as soon as the teaser was released, netizens called it another propaganda project to defame Muslims and Islam.

“72 Hoorain” has recently unveiled its first look, leading to a significant controversy on Twitter with many blaming the makers for disturbing communal harmony in India.

The teaser of the movie showcases images of figures including Osama Bin Laden, Ajmal Kasab, and a mixed-up photo of Yakub Memon. This depiction strongly suggests that the film revolves around Muslims and cashes on Islamophobia.

The trailer further highlights Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, both of whom have been recognized as 'terrorists' by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The trailer of the Bollywood film was shared on Twitter by the co-director of the film Ashoke Pandit who’s a Kashmiri Pandit.

“As promised, presenting to you the first look of our film #72Hoorain. I am sure you will like it. What if you end up dying a brutal death instead of meeting 72 virgins, as assured by terrorist mentors? Presenting the first look of my upcoming film “72 Hoorain”. The film is slated to release on 7 July 2023,” he said in a tweet.

The film “72 Hoorain” is directed by Sanjay Puran Singh, a National Award winner, and produced by Gulab Singh Tanwar. The movie stars Aamir Bashir and Pawan Malhotra in lead roles. It has been announced that the film will be released in theatres on July 7, 2023.

The director of the film while releasing the trailer said, “These people inject poison in their minds and make common people suicide bombers. We must remember that the attackers are from families like ours who are victims of perverted beliefs and brainwashing by terrorist leaders and lead them on the path of destruction.”

This is the third Hindi film to claim that it focuses on the subject of “Islamic extremism”, following the releases of “The Kashmir Files” and “The Kerala Story.”

These films have been promoted by the BJP and have been made tax-free in various states. However, they have also sparked controversy and led to attacks on Muslims in several parts of India.

SRINAGAR — National Conference President and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah on Monday said that baseless movies like ‘The Kashmir Files’ created an environment of hatred in J&K and such things must be banned.

As per the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), he said that the government's claim that there is a good influx of tourism does not reflect normalcy in J&K. "Rather, the situation is bad here."

“I have never witnessed Kashmiri Pandits pelting stones anywhere and there is no need to use force on them. We have raised the issue of law and order problem in J&K with LG and told him that we are with you in every step which is going to bring peace here,” he said after attending a condolence meeting in Anantnag.

“Our aim behind meeting LG was that the situation is bad here and everyday people are being killed, like a constable, youth in Shopian and Kashmiri Pandits are protesting peacefully and aren't restoring to stone-pelting and there wasn't any need of tear gas shelling and lathi charge,” he said.

He said Kashmiri Pandits demanded security and posting at safer places and safe accommodation.

“We have informed the LG about all these things and told him that there is a need to change this situation. There is a need for unity among all people of J&K at this stage,” he said.

A Kashmiri Pandit employee was killed inside his office in Budgam’s Chadoora last week following which massive protests rocked Kashmir.

RAMBAN — Former Chief Minister and PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is badly damaging the integrity of the Delimitation Commission, which otherwise is an institution of repute.

While talking to media persons on the sidelines of a party convention in Ramban district, she said that Delimitation Commission is an institution of repute and respect but BJP has badly damaged its image, that too for personal political gains.

Mehbooba Mufti, however, refused to comment about Assembly elections.

Mufti said that PDP has increased its youth connect programmes as the youth in Jammu and Kashmir are the worst sufferers due to unemployment and other factors.

Replying to a question over The Kashmir Files movie, she said that it would have been better if BJP would have paid some concern towards the upliftment and betterment of Kashmiri Pandits. "BJP should have done things for the betterment of KPs rather than promoting this movie,” she added.

The former chief minister accused the BJP of spreading hatred in the society and dividing people in the name of religion.

SRINAGAR — General Secretary of CPI (M), Sitaram Yechury on Thursday demanded an early hearing of the petition in Supreme Court (SC) challenging the abrogation of Article 370 by the government on August 05, 2019, and said that it was not only Kashmir Pandits who have suffered in the valley, but Muslims, Sikhs and others too have borne the brunt.

As per news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while addressing a news conference here at Gupkar residence of party leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami, Yechury said that a movie titled ‘The Kashmir Files’ has been released with an aim to worsen the situation on the ground. “The people belonging to any religion or sect including Muslims, Sikhs and Kashmiri Pandits have suffered equally in Kashmir. One fails to understand why the role of then-Governor was not highlighted in the movie. His role should have also been highlighted,” he said.

He further added that the Kashmiris as a whole have suffered, even the leaders have been attacked here. “Everyone has been fighting militancy equally,” he said.

Yechury also demanded an early hearing of a petition filed in the SC against the abrogation of Article 370 and added that until the petition is heard, the government should at least be barred from taking decisions and introducing new laws here.

He also said that the situation across the country has worsened, people have been suffering badly, unemployment at an all-time high and such is the situation that the youth have even now stopped searching for jobs.

“The situation of India is worsening rapidly as the constitutional pillars are being distracted,” he said, adding that it is the time to save the country and address the day to day issues of people.

Meanwhile, Tarigami, who was accompanying him, told the media persons that Kashmir is not a piece of land, but it has a history of 5000 years.

“The incumbent regime is putting the laws aside to take any decision with regard to Jammu and Kashmir. There is a need to save the democratic institutions and the country as well,” he said, adding that instead of rubbing salt on the wounds of people, there is a need to heal the wounds of people.

About ‘The Kashmir Files’, Tarigami said that the party is demanding the constitution of a commission to check the facts on the ground to know who has suffered in the Valley.

He added that the CPI (M) has decided that in collaboration with other major parties, it will strengthen the unity among the communities everywhere as the attempts are on to create a wedge between the different communities.

Tarigami also said that the conference held by the party has also passed a resolution in which different issues confronting the people have been highlighted.

SRINAGAR — The National Conference on Friday broke its silence on 'The Kashmir Files', saying while the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits was a "stain on Kashmiriyat", the movie was far from the truth as the film-makers have ignored the sacrifices of the Muslims and Sikhs who had also suffered from militancy.

Vice President of the party and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that if 'The Kashmir Files' was a commercial movie, no one has an issue, but if the film-makers claim that it is based on reality, then the facts are the other way round.

"When the unfortunate incident of Kashmiri Pandit migration took place, Farooq Abdullah was not the chief minister. Jagmohan was the Governor. It was V P Singh's government at the Centre which was supported by the BJP from outside," Abdullah told reporters in Damhal Hanji Pora area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir.

Abdullah wondered why this fact was kept away from the movie. "Don't manipulate the truth. It's not the right thing. If Kashmiri Pandits have fallen victims to terrorism, we have utmost regret about that, but let us not forget the sacrifices of Muslims and Sikhs who were also targeted by the same gun," he said.

Abdullah said that some of those from the majority community were yet to return. "Today, there is a need to create an atmosphere where we could bring back all those who had left their homes and not create a communal divide," he said.

The former chief minister said an atmosphere would be created for the return of Kashmiri Pandits. "But I do not think that those people who have made this movie, want them (Kashmiri Pandits) to return. Through this picture, they want Pandits to remain outside always," he said.

Abdullah later took to Twitter and said, "The pain and suffering of 1990 and after can not be undone. The way Kashmiri Pandits had their sense of security snatched from them and had to leave the valley is a stain on our culture of Kashmiriyat. We have to find ways to heal divides and not add to them."

While replying to one of the tweets by a Kashmiri Pandit about the reasons for a long silence, Abdullah reminded him saying "…I've been saying it for years now, both as CM and out of office. Perhaps you weren't paying attention to what I was saying then. I've been a long time advocate of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to look in all that happened from 1990 onwards."

Earlier, in his address, Abdullah said attempts were being made to defame a community across the world. "A common Kashmiri is not happy with what happened 32 years ago, that people were made to leave the Valley. Today, an impression is being created that all Kashmiris are communal, that all Kashmiris do not bear the people from other religions. What will be achieved by this? Will it make the road easier for their return?" he asked.

"I am afraid that the hatred which is being created against Kashmiri Muslims today, God forbid, our children studying outside the state, should not bear its brunt," he said.

During his tenure as the chief minister, Abdullah had advocated setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to go into the events unfolding since the onset of militancy.

JAMMU — In a first, the premiere of a Bollywood movie ‘The Kashmir Files’ was held in Jammu, just a week before its theatrical release.

‘The Kashmir Files’, a film based on the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s, was held in Jammu on Friday evening. The movie will hit the silver screen on March 11.

As per the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), interacting with media after the special screening, Producer, Director Vivek Agnihotri claimed that there is nothing political about the story, adding, ‘The Kashmir Files’ will reveal an untold story of 1990s exodus that forced hundreds of Kashmir Hindus to migrate from the Kashmir valley.

The special screening of The filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri flanked by wife and actress Pallavi Joshi claimed that the film will bring truth and an untold story of the Kashmir Hindus of 1990s exodus to the public.

Addressing a presser here this morning, he said, “The movie will bring out the truth about exodus and displacement of Kashmiri Pandits.”

Agnihotri further claimed that linking the Kashmir solution through the ‘The Kashmir Files’ with politics or political set-up will be wrong because, in a democracy, politics is run by vote banks. “There is no vote bank of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir, so perhaps it could not be resolved,” he said.

On the film landing into the controversy before its release as some people have knocked the doors of the judiciary objecting to certain scenes, Agnihotri took a dig at these sections of people and said, “Whatever is shown in the film is based on truth.”

He said the slogans raised in Kashmir or whatever was written on the walls in 1990, everything is shown as it is in the film, which actually is bothering many people.

“The project of ‘The Kashmir Files’ started in 2018 and it took four years of hard research,” he said, stating that it is a film, which to date no one has tried to bring to the silver screen. He claimed that the 'genocide' that took place in Kashmir in 1990 is true.

“We have interviewed the people who have been victim to the massacre, spoken to the government officials, police officers, subject experts and also interviewed many sections to script this untold story,” he added.

The Director said after the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, a campaign for Free Kashmir in America was launched, but after ‘The Kashmir Files’ was screened in the US, for the first time in the Capital Hills, a reception was organised for the entire crew wherein it was “accepted” and “admitted” that it was the biggest tragedy and genocide in the world.

Earlier, the special screening of the movie was organized on Friday evening for exiled Kashmiri Pandits community, who had faced mass migration from Kashmir valley in the early 90’s due to the upspring of militancy.

The makers of ‘The Kashmir Files’ including National award-winning filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and cast – Pallavi Joshi, Darshan Kumaar and Bhasha Sumbli hosted a special screening of the exodus drama.

Politicians, Army officers and known Kashmiri Pandits are specially invited for screening of ‘The Kashmir Files’.

Among the invitees, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said that the Hindi film ‘The Kashmir Files’ brought back memories of the difficult times in Kashmir.

Talking to reporters after the screening, the Jammu and Kashmir Police chief said, “Some scenes are close to reality. In totality, it is a good film.”

Written and directed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, the exodus drama features a stellar cast of actors including Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Pallavi Joshi and Chinmay Mandlekar.

Produced by Zee Studios and Tej Narayan Agarwal, Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, ‘The Kashmir Files’, written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri, is scheduled to release in theatres on March 11, 2022.