A new film on Kashmir has found a fan in Narendra Modi
“The Kashmir Files”, a violent drama, opens old wounds and feeds new fears
INSIDE CINEMAS, “The Kashmir Files” starts with a disclaimer: “This film... does not claim accurateness or factuality of historic events.” Outside the cinema, in contrast, the relentlessly violent drama is being promoted with what might be called a very big claimer. Narendra Modi himself, India’s prime minister, has hailed the film for exposing long-buried truths. So keen to share these is his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that states it runs have scrapped local entertainment taxes for the movie.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Horrible histories”
Asia March 26th 2022
- How the IPL reflects India’s strengths—and weaknesses
- A new film on Kashmir has found a fan in Narendra Modi
- The Stans want nothing to do with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
- South Korea’s president-elect starts with an unpopular personal project
- Joko Widodo is considering extending his term in office
More from Asia
Taiwan’s political drama is paralysing its government
Domestic dysfunction plays right into China’s hands
An angry culture war surrounds Australia Day
Conservatives claim that wokeness is destroying the national holiday
The fate of a ranting driver raises doubts about the “new” Uzbekistan
It seems free speech is not so guaranteed after all
Indian politicians are becoming obsessed with doling out cash
Handouts are transforming the role of the state—perhaps for the worse
How to end the nightmare of Asia’s choked roads
The middle classes love cars but hate traffic
Can Donald Trump maintain Joe Biden’s network of Asian alliances?
Discipline and creativity will help, but so will China’s actions