By Muslim Mirror Network
Nadav Lapid, an Israeli director who was also the head of the jury for the International Film Festival of India, defended his critique of The Kashmir Files on Wednesday but made it clear that he didn’t aim to offend the Kashmiri Pandit community or those who had endured hardship.
At the festival’s closing ceremony on Monday, Lapid called the Vivek Agnihotri-directed movie “propaganda” and a “vulgar movie.”
The inclusion of the movie in the event’s International Competition division, according to Lapid and other jury members, had left them “shocked and horrified.”
Israel’s ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, claimed that Lapid had exploited the festival organisers’ hospitality after his words sparked a storm and should be ashamed of himself.
Lapid claimed in an interview with News18 on Wednesday that he has “never denied the tragedy of Kashmir” or the hardships of the locals.
“I didn’t want to insult anyone, and my aim was never to insult people or their relatives, who have suffered,” said the Israeli filmmaker. “I totally apologise if that’s the way they interpreted.”
Lapid, however, was adamant in his critique of the movie and insisted that the other members of the jury shared his viewpoint.