In Chicago, ‘Kashmir Files’ Leaves Youth Invigorated; Audience Sniffling; Oldies Debating
by Jatinder Singh Bedi, Chief Editor, Hello NRI
CHICAGO – ‘Kashmir Files’ a feature film based on exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley during 1990s was screened in a Chicago suburb on 12 Dec 2021. The screening was part of an ongoing string of film’s screenings that ‘Global Kashmiri Diaspora,’ is organising across the United States. Locally based book reading collective named ‘Indica’ organized the Chicago screening under aegis of its executive Mr Rakesh Malhotra, who is also President-Elect of the Federation of India Associations (FIA). He was assisted by other FIA executives to include: Mr Amar Upadhaya, Ms Nirmala Reddy, Mr Hemant Patel, and Mr Abhinav Raina. Mr Soman Dhar also assisted.
Director of the ‘Kashmir Files’ Mr Vivek Agnihotri along with his wife Ms Pallavi Joshi were present at the screening. Ms Pallavi Joshi is film’s producer and also acted in Kashmir Files.
Speaking at the screening, Mr Vivek Agnihotri stated that much to his delight, the ‘Kashmir Files’ has attracted a big response from the NRIs. He added that while the film was in making, people expressed doubts that such a story line would be allowed to be screened. “But much to my satisfaction, we are standing here attending [perhaps] 9th screening in Chicago,” Mr Vivek Agnihotri added.
The film attracted a sold-out response, and much before its start the 180-seat theatre was packed to seams. The pre-vetted audience predominantly comprised NRIs from Kashmir region of India. Members of several Kashmiri organizations were present in full strength. Some of these included: Mr Raj Koul of Indo American Kashmir Forum; Mr Abhinav Raina Zonal Director of Kashmiri Overseas Association; Ms Roshni Koul Youth Director KOA; Mr Avatans Kumar of Indica. It brought tears to many amongst them.
KOA’s Kashmiri youth leader Ms Roshni Koul: “As heart wrenching as this film is, it also provided a reinvigoration of my purpose to work to preserve my culture, history, and community. It is abundantly crucial for youth to understand this ongoing genocide against Kashmiri Pundits and use our knowledge, resources, and voices to bring an end to it.”
It needs an emphatic mention that Kashmiri NRIs -- including many exodus-impacted Kashmiri Pandits – have been actively propagating their cause and demanding justice. Their means included Candlelight Vigils, supporting pro-Hindu Protests, commemorating Exodus Day, etc. Ambassador Neeta Bhushan had even cordially hosted a Kashmiri NRI delegation, and received from it a memorandum seeking expedited justice from India government for the Kashmiri Pandits. According to Mr Rakesh Malhotra several National-level and State-Level elected politicians were invited but they did not attend. India’s current Chicago based consul general Amit Kumar was conspicuous by absence at the ‘Kashmir Files’ screening, as well as the Impact Screening reception hosted the next day.
Ms Peggy Shapiro, Midwest Director of ‘Stand With Us,’ also attended. She extended full support to the cause that the Kashmiri Pandits are advocating. ‘Stand With Us’ is Jewish organization that works towards education, fights misinformation, and works to end hostility and prejudice against the Jewish people.
Organizer Rakesh Malhotra (extreme right) and his wife Ms Sunita Malhotra, PhD (second from the right) at the Impact Screening Reception in Chicago.
Also spotted at the screening were Chicago’s eminent Hindu leaders. General Secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Mr Amitabh Mittal attended the screening. Also present was Mr Sanjay Shah, the back-bone and chief organizer of the World Hindu Conference recently organized in Chicago.
Describing the film as a 3-hour long trailer of a larger problem, Mr Amitabh Mittal complimented Ms Pallavi for doing fabulous job of showing [exposing] real evil through her character in the film.” He says that this problem is spilling world-over and the correction needs to come from within the oblivious society.
Speaking to the Hello NRI, Mr Rakesh Malhotra stated that the film is based on the real happenings in the life of Kashmir valley domiciles many of whom have now migrated to US. He informed that “75 affected migrants were interviewed to construct film’s plot and characterization.”
It be mentioned that the storywriter travelled across the globe interviewing scores of affected Kashmiri NRI families. At a subsequently organized Impact Screening reception, these interviews were played before the select attendees. Of these, five NRIs were present in the audience. These included: Ms Seema Mattoo, Ms Shailja Tikoo, Mr Abhinav Raina, Mr Bansi Pandit, and Mr Himanshu Ganju.
The storyline spans through year 1989 to 2003 happenings. Interestingly Chicago-based RSS ideologue Shridhar Damle, views the film ‘Kashmir Files’ through a different lens. Mr Shridhar Damle terms the film as a biography of the “upper class Kashmiri Pandits.” Mr Shridhar Damle sees the film slanted towards upper and the upper-middle class segment of the Kashmir Pandits who lived in their own shell and considered themselves “a class apart.” There is no mention of the fate that the lower class met with during the exodus and violence in Kashmir including the Jammu region, Mr Damle says. References to Amarnath Yatra are also missing.
The intensely violent ‘Kashmir Files’ sans catharsis turns highly depressing. It leaves some sobbing, several sniffling, and many with moist eyes. According to Mr Shridhar Damle, “Such violence in this film would lead to creating and widening the gap between the Muslims and Hindus; that must be avoided.” Mr Shridhar Damle feels, “the Director-cum-Storywriter could’ve talked about missed incidents during the post-screening questions-and-answer (Q&A) session. At the Q&A, Mr Vivek Agnihotri stonewalled Mr Sridhar Damle’s attempts at initiating this discussion. He stated that through this story he “chose to depict ‘what is humanity’ vis-a-vis ‘what is not humanity.’” Mr Vivek Agnihotri added that “it was his conscience decision not to convey the oft-depicted element of hope through this film.”
But KOA’s Kashmiri youth leader Ms Roshni Koul picks film’s didactic element. “As heart wrenching as this film is, it also provided a reinvigoration of my purpose to work to preserve my culture, history, and community. It is abundantly crucial for youth to understand this ongoing genocide against Kashmiri Pundits and use our knowledge, resources, and voices to bring an end to it,” Ms Roshni Koul says.
Post Screening Q & A: (From the left): Shirdhar Damle, Amitabh Mittal, Rohit Joshi, Hemant Patel, and Amar Upadhaya.
Commenting on the interviews screened during Impact Screening, President of the FIA, Mr Rajesh Patel complimented the film maker for the research oriented 5000-hours-long interviews of Kashmiri NRIs. He said, “Neither the government nor any organization came forward to document these horrific stories.” President Mr Rajesh Patel stated that the FIA stands by, and wholeheartedly supports, Kashmiri Pundits in their endeavour.
In the 4-year long journey in making of the film and subsequent successes, the ‘Kashmir Files’ swam through multiple ripples to include issues with actor Mr Yograj Singh’s speech at India Farmers’ Protest, and the suicide by ‘Kashmir Files’ Line Producer Ms Sarahana.