'The Kashmir Files': Untold stories of Kashmir

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'The Kashmir Files', directed by Vivek Agnihotri is all about the untold and heart- wrenching stories of Kashmir Pandits' displacement, which were waiting to be heard in the past 30 years.

The director has chosen incidents narrated from the Kashmiri Pandits' point of view for a dramatized version of events that unfolded after the emergence of Islamic militancy in the valley state in the year 1989. It is said that between February and March 1990, approximately 100,000 of the Valley's total 140,000 Kashmiri Pandit inhabitants migrated, following the threats by the terrorists that if they wanted to stay, then they must either convert to Islam or flee the valley or be prepared to be killed.

The film opens with a scene where a visual of kids playing cricket in the neighbourhood with commentary on Indo-Pak relations booming from a transistor. Shiva, one of the kids, cheers for Sachin Tendulkar, and it instantly leads to a breach of harmony. From this moment, we come to know that 'The Kashmir Files' is going to revisit the wounds that are still fresh, even three decades later.

Showing the events and the scenes in a way too brutal and explosive manner, Agnihotri's narrative triggers varied emotions and feelings, emotionally moving scenes and a few barbaric sequences. "Relive, Tsalive ya Galive" (convert to Islam, leave or die), these words echo in our mind for a long time after watching the film, you and I cannot imagine what it must have done to those who lived their days and nights threatened by it.

Violence inflicted on innocent lives, massacre, elusive peace, human rights and political agenda, ideologies at conflict make the movie more contemplative. The Kashmiri Pandits consider their displacement strictly as genocide and not an exodus, due to the horrifying torture and unspeakable violence. The non-linear narrative and effective flashbacks make it an intense watch. Anupam Kher's commendable performance as Pushkar Nath, a Kashmiri pandit, makes the movie worth watching. Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumaar make the movie a compelling watch. The movie could continue to be a talking point due to the ancient history of Kashmir, effective synchronization of mythology, JNU's internal politics, the diplomacy of media, the Indian Army and abrogation of Article 370. Rohith Sharma's music and Swapnil Bandodkar's lone lyric are outstanding.

'The Kashmir Files' is still running in the theatres and those who haven't watched it yet definitely can go for it.