#TheKasmirFiles
A Thread from a commoner's perspective and the reactions I saw in theatre and among the youth around me.
⬇️
A Thread from a commoner's perspective and the reactions I saw in theatre and among the youth around me.
⬇️
1/ For a new movie, youngsters are driven to theatres by 2 things:
a) Hype b) Curiosity
Hype: The movie is generating surreal hype- Be it via ratings, reviews or word of mouth. Hype leads to domino effect, where you want to be part of it even if you don't know what's it about.
a) Hype b) Curiosity
Hype: The movie is generating surreal hype- Be it via ratings, reviews or word of mouth. Hype leads to domino effect, where you want to be part of it even if you don't know what's it about.
2/ Curiosity: On the other hand, there are people who have a faint idea about Kashmir "exodus" (they have been taught to use this word instead of the actual "genocide") and genuinely want to know what's it all about.
Then there are some imp. factors which played no role 🔽
Then there are some imp. factors which played no role 🔽
3/ a) Fandom- No big star, no cult following for Vivek Sir's movies barring few RW on sm
b) Media promotion- Very little, all organic
c) Relatability- As the issue has been hidden from public's eye, only Pandit families relate.
Still, shows are housefull!
How's movie experience?
b) Media promotion- Very little, all organic
c) Relatability- As the issue has been hidden from public's eye, only Pandit families relate.
Still, shows are housefull!
How's movie experience?
4/ Stunned & Stoic Silence- In few of the scenes, audience actually gasps for breath.
Having said that, there needs to be a disclaimer for non-entry of children. A slight gun-shot & they start crying, distracting viewers.
Barely a couple of scenes evoke laughter.
↪️ Content
Having said that, there needs to be a disclaimer for non-entry of children. A slight gun-shot & they start crying, distracting viewers.
Barely a couple of scenes evoke laughter.
↪️ Content
5/ While the movie shows the suffering of Kashmiri Pandits in totality, the story revolves around Pushkar Pandit family.
That's why viewers say that it's not even 10% of what KPs actually faced as plight of many such families can't be covered in 3 hrs.
Is the movie too brutal?
That's why viewers say that it's not even 10% of what KPs actually faced as plight of many such families can't be covered in 3 hrs.
Is the movie too brutal?
6/ For today's gen, especially the urban one with OTT, the blood and gore is normal. We've watched uncensored GOT, Mirzapur, Squid Games & alike. For our parents gen., it may seem excessive, however it's still palatable.
Still, there's SHOCK & DISBELIEF. It comes from the fact..
Still, there's SHOCK & DISBELIEF. It comes from the fact..
6/ that this happened to one of us, in an Independent India and there's no retaliation, no justice and it's NOT A FICTION. Other movies and shows atleast give consolation with the revenge.
This is why the movie has led to wide TV debates for government actions and inactions.
This is why the movie has led to wide TV debates for government actions and inactions.
7/ Watershed Moment:
By shattering narratives, the movie is doing multiple things at once
a) Consolidating Bollywood's losing grip- Independent film makers like VA & Southern India film industries be it Telugu/Tamil with high quality dubs will keep on denting them economically.
By shattering narratives, the movie is doing multiple things at once
a) Consolidating Bollywood's losing grip- Independent film makers like VA & Southern India film industries be it Telugu/Tamil with high quality dubs will keep on denting them economically.
8/ b) One-Sided Narratives won't be tolerated: Previous movies either hid the pain of Hindus or demonized them.
With TKF commercial success, movies vilifying Hindus as the perennial bad guys will be seen with a pinch of salt and Hindu's voices will find mainstream takers.
With TKF commercial success, movies vilifying Hindus as the perennial bad guys will be seen with a pinch of salt and Hindu's voices will find mainstream takers.
9/ c) Showing influence of academia, literature, media and politics, both as individual entity and their nexus:
We saw how Krishna Pandit in his final monologue is called a paid propagandist even after citing references, how real history is hidden from students, how foreign..
We saw how Krishna Pandit in his final monologue is called a paid propagandist even after citing references, how real history is hidden from students, how foreign..
10/ media channels are in cohorts with Pakistani-operaters to find media bytes for stories of oppression by Indian Army. Then the connection between the big-wigs of academia and the militants is all there to see.
11/ The movie starts from the peak stage of terrorism. I wish it also showed the events both- militant & political from 1986 leading up to it.
Even so, the film has laid bare many threads from which new fact-based stories will originate for each of these untold events.
Even so, the film has laid bare many threads from which new fact-based stories will originate for each of these untold events.
12/ The best part of the film is that it doesn't give sermons and pass a judgement. With all the facts in hand, it has left it up to the viewers to decide who's on the right side.
And if you feel it's Islamophobic, do think why KM remain bystanders, why the neighbors helped..
And if you feel it's Islamophobic, do think why KM remain bystanders, why the neighbors helped..
13/ the terrorists, why the moderate ones didn't stop the loudspeakers. Learn to call spade a spade. Truth is a bitter pill to swallow. And, this daring movie has left it out all open.
People from all communities today are united in acknowledging this wrong.
People from all communities today are united in acknowledging this wrong.
14/ Kudos to the filmmakers @vivekagnihotri @ZeeStudios_ for the success and being so brave to bring out the truth into the visual reality. 👏 And the actors @AnupamPKher @mithunda_off @bhashasumbli Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi for such stupendous acting 🙌 Shat Shat Naman.
15/ Only one thing I request the filmmakers, please don't give us an interval in movies like these. For such hard-hitting movies, we want to remain seated and don't want to munch popcorn and drink cola
End.
End.
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