Dear Vivek Ji, I have always seen you as an elder brother. Somehow I felt a connection from the time I met you in your Production House. I had met you earlier in few conferences as a host but never did we get a chance to interact much. In one such conference, I remember coming upto you and requesting to join a panel on Kashmir. Your answer to me was that you only speak when you have full facts of any subject on your table. To our surprise, you continued to hear the panel patiently when you were free to leave after your session.
Looking back, I think it was your honesty that must have attracted me towards you. I think we underestimate the power of honesty sometimes. Its a softpower within a human being which makes him lovable because the energies which that person emits are acceptable to other people’s frequencies. Infact the synergy of those two energy sources define a connection. If there was a frequency diagram to represent the same, the coordinate at which your frequency meets with the coordinates of the people who admire you, that will be the ‘Origin’ of axis. With you, I believe that is your greatest strength. Your energy transmission through honest intentions and work makes your viewers trust you with what you are telling them.
And thats where your latest film ‘The Kashmir Files’ also hits the bulls eye. You did go down deep into the Origin of Genocide. It made an impact because you captured the pain in its truest essence. You somehow managed to live that life first and write about it later. I have no idea how you did it. In that sense, I see a Yogi in you as well.
Yesterday while watching the movie, there was a point when all the senses froze, tears dried, shivers were sent down the spine and the soul was shattered. I have never felt that degree of despair from 1990. As you know, I have suffered from PTSD all my life and seeing what was running in my subconsious being played on 70mm was surreal. As I trembled, it also gave me a sense of relief that am not alone now & very soon entire Bharatvarsh will be standing shoulder to shoulder with us as we return to our homeland with full dignity & honor.
Every character of The Kashmir Files reflected honesty & made the viewers cry for justice. As I write this, Bhasha didi’s face just comes up infront of my eyes. All through the film, I wanted to hug her and protect her as I knew what was coming. I knew its a film, far from reality, but your storytelling blurred the difference between real and reel.
Anupam Sir’s Bobji is unforgettable. In a symbolic sense, its like he must have worked hard all his life to prepare for this role. When he closes his eyes, you made me remember my Grandfather who died of illness because we couldnt afford him a hospital. That part of our lives will never see a closure. Genocide is far bigger than a full fledged war, in that sense we continue to be under attack for more than 32 years.
Darshan Kumar symbolized an average university guy berefit of facts & full of propaganda. It is said that the fewer the facts, the stronger the opinion and thats the exact bracket he fits in. His acting skills & change of stance when he discovers the truth gave me a ray of hope. His Presidential monologue in itself gives a hint of the research you have done to justify that there are no bad students, only bad teachers.
We have idolized dance and song heros all our life but I dont remember when a filmmaker has become a greater Hero than the Starcast itself. That is Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri for the India today. I know this just gives you more and more responsibility for future projects but thats the kind of character & life that you have chosen.
I tried but couldnt hate the Radhika Menon character played brilliantly by Pallavi ji. She demonstrated a dynamic screen presence & did full justice while essaying a very difficult role. Even when we know what she is saying might be factually wrong, her aura & acting abilities make it sound true for that one moment. The only similarity that I could find in her real and reel persona was her infectious smile.
Apart from her flawless potrayal of Radhika, when I saw Pallavi ji yesterday in person, I immediately got reminded of my mother. She was called the Pallavi Joshi of Kashmir fondly. She was 24 when she lost everything. When Pallavi Ji hugged her yesterday, I couldnt help but notice that the exodus has indeed taken a toll on her. Her only property are the keys of the lock she put on while leaving her home. The keys whose locks were broken 32 years ago.
In Chinmay Mandlekar eyes, I saw the monster Bitta captivating our brains to such an extent that people were shivering when he was holding the gun. His role has surpassed the agent of chaos, Joker of the Batman series, who is the only other onscreen persona I have loved to hate. Normalising his contempt for human dignity defines how we had mainstreamed terror in Kashmir.
In conclusion, I make three requests:-
1. Please request the Goverment, as a filmmaker, to make The Kashmir Files tax free throughout Bharat. This demand will be supported & amplified by every Nationalist accross India.
2. Please tweet to fellow Indians to accept that every death in Exile is martyrdom. Hence, provisions should be made for a quick return of Kashmiri Hindus to their motherland with full honour & dignity.
3. While hosting a conference few years ago Vivek Ji, I had given you a 5 rupee coin. I had requested you to give this coin to a Kashmiri Hindu beggar incase you see them anywhere. As a testimony of our resolve & self respect, pretty sure that you have not been able to spot any Kashmiri Hindu beggar. If so, then may I kindly have the coin back please?
I have said it before and I say it again. Entire country will tear up as and when they go to see The Kashmir Files. You were an inspiration, a Guru, an elder brother for many but you have transcended all boundaries to become a member of lacs of families. In these times of nuclearity, this in itself is a big achievement.
ONLY you could have done this. You were the chosen one, we waited for you for 32 years. Now that you have come, you are ours forever. Respect. Love. Naman
साष्टांग दंडवत प्रणाम
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