The Kashmir Files starring Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles might just be the most controversial Vivek Agnihotri directorial. The film which is based on the exodus of Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s got great reviews in India. Even PM Narendra Modi tweeted about the film upon its release. However, the film has been banned in Singapore by their government. 

“The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the ongoing conflict in Kashmir. These representations have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multi-racial and multi-religious society,” the Singapore government said in a statement.

They added that under the government’s film classification guidelines, “any material that is denigrating to racial or religious communities in Singapore” will be refused classification. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared the statement on Twitter and said: “Film promoted by India’s ruling party, Kashmir Files, banned in Singapore.”

Agnihotri replied to his tweet by saying, “Dear fopdoodle, gnashnab @ShashiTharoor. FYI, Singapore is most regressive censor in the world. It even banned The Last Temptations of Jesus Christ (ask your madam). Even a romantic film called #TheLeelaHotelFiles will be banned. Please stop making fun of Kashmiri Hindu Genocide.”

The Kashmir Files recently grabbed headlines when a PIL was filed against the film. The plea sought a stay order on the release of the film. The Bombay High Court, however, dismissed the petition. The political drama was released in theatres on March 11th. 

(Featured Image Credits: Twitter @vivekagnihotri)