New Delhi, Aug 20 : The conflict of verbal battles between Anurag Kashyap and Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri is getting more intense with The Kashmir Files’ director releasing an elaborate statement in response to “Bollywood organizing an anti-film campaign being submitted to the Oscars”.Kashyap, whose most recent release, the Taapsee Pannu-starrer ‘Dobaara’ had a disappointing opening on the Friday of August 19, has recently stated that “The Kashmir Files’ must not be a priority in preference to S.S.Rajamouli’s blockbuster, “RRR,” as the country’s official contender to the top foreign feature film award.
The decision is taken by the Film Federation of India (FFI) which is the apex organization of film distributors, producers and studio owners and, since 1957, when Mehboob Khan’s ‘MotherIndia was defeated by just a vote, both of two Indian films Mira Nair’s ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1988) and the Aamir Khan-starring Lagaan (2001) –have made it onto the Oscar nominations shortlist.
The film neither Satyajit Ray, with three FFI nods or Kamal Haasan, seven of his films nominated for the honor of representing India at the Oscars which were on the sought-after shortlist.
And Lagaan was the final Indian film in competition for an Oscar, was knocked out by a film that was from Bosnia and Herzegovina.The current debate appears to be a lot of talk about nothing, but Agnihotri isn’t the only one to be offended.
In his lengthy speech, Agnihotri referred to the current dryness in the Hindi film industry, and said: “Bollywood is suffering today because you’re trying to attribute your own failures to another person because his films are successful.”
He said: “Go to any middle-class urban, semi-urban or urban household and ask them questions and you will see how many people are enraged by the arrogance, the glossy life style, and disconnection of Bollywood with real-world viewers.”
Agnihotri stated that the public has seen “all this arrogance, hypocrisy and this trendy, extravagant lifestyle, paid-for public relations campaign .and now they’re not willing to accept this which is good, as it has led to Bollywood reconsider the ideology they adhere to”.
Agnihotri was then able to explain how she was told that the Bollywood establishment “boycotted my “Buddha in a Traffic Jam’.” Then she explained how Bollywood critics, as well as the majority of theatres “boycotted” The Tashkent Files’.
He added: “They are still running an anti-‘The Kashmir Files’ Oscars submission.They are, therefore, experts in this field.It’s a serious subject that I consider seriously.If people are boycotting their films, it is due to of the anger of the public.There is a gap between the Indian middle class and the actors and producers due to of their arrogance.”
In a passionate attack against the power-brokers in Bollywood, Agnihotri said: “I have a question.Why isn’t anyone speaking up or speak out against moral decay and corruption in Bollywood or the abuse? Everyone gives in to these things and yet they talk about defending powerful people.
He then made a statement that could resonate with the majority of cinema-goers: “Do you think common people are so stupid that they are unable to see past this hypocrisy? People have seen through it and they’re saying, if If you provide us with quality content, and only we’ll go to the cinema.You can’t fool us with this Diwali release , or the Eid release or even his film or his film.This is the (popular) verdict.”
In relation in particular to Kashyap, he said: “I will explain the reason I tweeted about Anurag Kashyap’s comments.My films are made with passion and I protect them with passion.We put a lot of sacrifice to create the films we made.”
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