Filmmakers Sudhir Mishra and Vivek Agnihotri, who are on different sides of the political spectrum, sat down for a free-wheeling podcast, which has been released by the latter on YouTube. The idea of the podcast was suggested by Agnihotri after Mishra tweeted about liberals not turning up in cinema halls for movies made by him. During the podcast, the two filmmakers discussed several things including Agnihotri's widely-discussed film The Kashmir Files. Mishra tried to make Agnihotri understand what critics are saying about the film. He said, "What do your critics say to you? People are using your film in the wrong way." He added that people watched films like Article 15, Thappad, and Mulk. On this Agnihotri asked, "If people are not objecting to an Article 15 or Mulk, why do they have a problem if I make a film like Kashmir Files?" Mishra reasoned, "Because you have a very strong point of view. The problem with your film is..you should not get attached to one viewpoint." Immediately Agnihotri interrupted and asked Mishra if Anubhav Sinha's Bheed was attached to a viewpoint. When he answered in the negative, Agnihotri questioned, "Then why did Congress promote it?" The filmmaker asked Mishra not to be defensive. He also added, "There is no harm in making political films. The more political films will be made, the more the voters will get mature. But there should not be bias in whose point of view should be accepted and whose not." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) Vivek Agnihotri also questioned Sudhir Mishra about his close friend Anurag Kashyap's views on The Kashmir Files and if he ever stopped him from saying what he said about the movie. He said, "If I have made The Kashmir Files, at least watch it, then talk about it and criticise it. Senior directors and filmmakers, who have a global voice, whose words impact filmmakers across the world, are saying boycott this film, including Kashyap." Mishra told the filmmaker that if Kashyap feels The Kashmir Files should not go to the Oscars, that is his point of view but people in the industry are not against his success. "Please understand they are not your enemies. They are people with a different point of view and are honestly disturbed by certain things. Nobody has a problem with your success, people have a problem with how your films are used," he said. However, Agnihotri maintained that he has been 'othered' in the Hindi film industry after he spoke against certain practices of the industry. The Kashmir Files had released in theatres in March last year. After a mediocre start, it gained momentum at the ticket counters after positive word of mouth. However, the film was called a propaganda vehicle by some and was in eye of the storm after IFFI jury head Nadav Lapid called it ‘vulgar’. Meanwhile, Sudhir Mishra, who has made films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi and Chameli among others, has the release of his next film Afwaah around the corner. The film stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Bhumi Pednekar in the lead roles.
