Vivek Agnihotri’s Notice To Mamata Banerjee: A Legal Battle Over The Kashmir Files

Vivek Agnihotri, the director of the controversial film The Kashmir Files, has sent a legal notice to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her alleged “defamatory” remarks against his movie. The notice was sent on May 9, 2023, by Agnihotri along with his actor-wife Pallavi Joshi and Abhishek Agarwal, both producers of the film.

What did Mamata Banerjee say?

The legal notice was triggered by Banerjee’s comments at a press conference in Nabanna on May 8, 2023, where she announced a ban on another film, The Kerala Story, in the state. Banerjee claimed that The Kerala Story and The Kashmir Files were both films based on “distorted” facts and were meant to “humiliate one section” of society. She also alleged that The Kashmir Files was a piece of propaganda funded by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the main opposition party in West Bengal.

What is The Kashmir Files about?

The Kashmir Files is a film that claims to depict the “untold story” of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in 1990. The film features actors like Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Agnihotri himself. The film was released on January 26, 2023, amid protests and controversies. Agnihotri has said that his film is based on extensive research and interviews with over 5000 Kashmiri Pandits who were displaced from their homeland.

What is the legal notice demanding?

The legal notice sent by Agnihotri and his team accuses Banerjee of making “false”, “baseless” and “far away from the truth” statements about The Kashmir Files with a “malafide intention” to defame them and their films. The notice also alleges that Banerjee’s remarks were made to gain “easy popularity among so called seculars” in the country. The notice demands an unconditional apology from Banerjee with the same amount of publicity that her comments received. It also warns of further legal action if Banerjee fails to comply with the notice within seven days.

What is the response from Mamata Banerjee?

As of May 11, 2023, there has been no official response from Mamata Banerjee or her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), to the legal notice sent by Agnihotri and his team. However, some TMC leaders have defended Banerjee’s comments and criticized Agnihotri’s films as “communal” and “divisive”. They have also questioned Agnihotri’s credentials as a filmmaker and accused him of being a BJP supporter.

What is the public opinion on this issue?

The issue of Vivek Agnihotri’s notice to Mamata Banerjee has generated mixed reactions from the public. Some people have supported Agnihotri’s right to freedom of expression and artistic creativity. They have praised his film as a brave attempt to expose the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and demanded justice for them. They have also condemned Banerjee’s comments as “intolerant” and "anti-national".

On the other hand, some people have criticized Agnihotri’s film as a biased and sensationalized portrayal of a complex and sensitive issue. They have accused him of spreading hatred and misinformation about Kashmir and its people. They have also supported Banerjee’s comments as a stand against communalism and propaganda.

What is Agnihotri’s next project?

Agnihotri has announced that his next film, The Delhi Files, will be the last in the Files trilogy, which is “evidently about the 1984 anti-Sikh riots” . He has described the film as his “boldest” and said that it will expose a “gut-wrenching tale of our times”. He has also said that the film will be shot in Hindi and Punjabi and will feature his wife Pallavi Joshi as one of the actors . The film is expected to release in 2024.

Conclusion

The legal battle between Vivek Agnihotri and Mamata Banerjee over The Kashmir Files is a reflection of the polarized opinions on the issue of Kashmir in India. While Agnihotri claims to present the “untold story” of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, Banerjee accuses him of making a propaganda film to humiliate one section of society. The issue has also sparked a debate on the freedom of expression and artistic creativity of filmmakers in India. Agnihotri’s next film, The Delhi Files, is likely to generate more controversies and reactions as it deals with another sensitive and tragic episode in India’s history.