By  
on  

'The Kashmir Files is a good voice for Kashmiri Pandits, but ours is also an important film,' says Jhund producer, questions criteria of films getting tax-free

Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri's The Kashmir Files has emerged victorious at the box office. Headlined by Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi, the film is based on the Kashmir genocide of Kashmiri Pandit community. States like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura and Goa have declared the film tax-free. 

Now, as The Kashmir Files continues to rake in money and praise, Savita Raj Hiremath, the producer of Jhund is 'perplexed'. In a note on Facebook, Savita questioned why is The Kashmir Files tax-free and not Amitabh Bachchan-Nagraj Manjule's critically acclaimed film. "I recently watched Kashmir Files and as the story of Kashmiri Pandits exodus it's heartbreaking and is a story that needed to be told. It is a good voice for Kashmiri Pandits! But as the producer of JHUND I am perplexed. After all, Jhund is also an important film and has a story and a big message that has received tremendous acclaim and word of mouth from the audience," Savita wrote. 

Recommended Read: The Kashmiri Pandit community who were subjected to exodus, genocide and forgotten for 32 years can start healing: Anupam Kher on the unprecedented success of The Kashmir Files

She further asked what's the criteria to declare a film tax-free. "So I want to find out what's the criterion on which the government selects a film to support it so strongly by making it tax-free, endorsing it through social media and asking Offices to showcase the film or give a half day holiday to its employees. After all Jhund also has a subject that is so crucial to our country's growth. Jhund is not just talking about the disparity between caste and economic disparity but also shows a way to make the lower strata of society find their success story," she shared.

 

Jhund, directed by Nagraj Manjule, released on March 4. The film is about a retired college sports teacher who takes it upon himself to get a bunch of slum kids out of drugs and other crimes through the medium of football. 

Apart from making it tax-free, several states even arranged free shows of The Kashmir Files. Half-day leaves for employees to watch the film were granted in some states. Amid threats, director Vivek got a Y-level security.   

(Source: Facebook)

Recommended