Singapore bans ‘The Kashmir Files’, calls movie “one-sided” portrayal of Muslims

Singapore has banned the controversial Bollywood movie “The Kashmir Files”, assessing it to be “beyond” the country’s film classification guidelines.

The film’s representations “have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious society,” read a joint statement issued in Singapore by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

“The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the on-going conflict in Kashmir,” the authorities told Channel News Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindu nationalist leaders had praised the film in March, saying it showed the “truth of Kashmir’s violent past.”

“Film promoted by India’s ruling party, Kashmir Files, banned in Singapore,” following the ban in Singapore, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted.

Film promoted by India’s ruling party, #KashmirFiles, banned in Singapore: https://t.co/S6TBjglele pic.twitter.com/RuaoTReuAH

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 10, 2022

Anupam Kher starrer ‘The Kashmir Files’ deals with the story of violence against Kashmiri pandits. Scholars and critics of Hindutva ideology has flagged the film for installing hatred towards Muslims.

The film has been widely endorsed by Hindu nationalist groups. Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the movie was released on 11 March.

The movie has been given tax-free run in BJP run states of Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Goa and Tripura.

Meanwhile, Genocidal slogans and anti-Muslim chants were raised by Hindutva groups at Kashmir Files screenings across country.