“The controversial film The Kashmir Files, about the exodus of Hindus from the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s, has been banned in Singapore, citing concerns about its “potential to cause animosity between different communities.”
According to the news agency PTI, the film has been classified as “beyond” Singapore’s film classification guidelines.
“The film will be refused categorization due to its confrontational and one-sided portrayal of Muslims, as well as depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the current war in Kashmir,” Singapore’s government announced on Monday.
“These representations have the potential to cause animosity between different communities, as well as disrupt community stability and religious harmony in our multi-racial and multi-religious society,” according to the statement.
According to the city-film state’s classification guidelines, “any material that is derogatory to Singapore’s racial or religious communities” will be denied classification.
The Kashmir Files, directed by Vivek Agnihotri and released on March 11, has been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several BJP leaders and has been rated a Box Office hit, but critics say it plays on anti-Muslim sentiment and is inaccurate.
The Singapore government statement was shared by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who wrote: “Film promoted by India’s governing party, Kashmir Files, banned in Singapore.”
The film, which was also written by Vivek Agnihotri, stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles.
