The Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film in the National Integration Category went to director Vivek Agnihotri's "The Kashmir Files" at the National Film Awards, announced on Thursday. Political heavyweights have criticized the film's win and called it "shocking," including MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
Omar Abdullah made fun of the movie's success by quoting a tweet about it and adding the phrase "National integration" along with an emoticon for laughter.
MK Stalin, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, expressed his disapproval of the film's recognition, saying that "the dignity of national awards should not be compromised for cheap politics." "It is shocking that a film that impartial film critics ignored as a contentious film has been awarded," he continued.
"The absence of political bias in the literature and film awards makes the awards a timeless honor," MK Stalin replied when asked about the honors. The other winners, particularly those who made contributions to Tamil cinema, were also thanked by him.
After its March 2022 release, the film "The Kashmir Files," which is based on the lives of Kashmiri Pandits during the 1990 insurgency in Kashmir, caused controversy. Farooq Abdullah, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, was one of several leaders who had urged for the film's banning. In contrast, many others had commended Agnihotri and his work.
When Omar Abdullah mocked his movie in a tweet, Vivek Agnihotri said, "This is the most significant award coming from you @OmarAbdullah. I would have been really upset if you had made a different comment.
Agnihotri earlier said in his message following the victory that he had dedicated the movie to "all the victims of terrorism" and added, "I have always claimed that The Kashmir Files is not only my film but it's a film for all the Kashmiris who have been the victim of terrorism in the Valley. It serves as a platform for the sufferings of Kashmiris who have experienced terrorism and allows for the dissemination of their suffering to the entire nation.
