Vidhu
Vinod
Chopra's
latest
film,
Shikara:
The
Untold
Story
Of
Kashmiri
Pandits,
was
recently
critiqued
by
two
students.
The
open
letter
of
the
students
stated
that
the
title
Shikara
'beautifully
justifies
the
story',
but
questioned
the
tagline,
'The
Untold
Story
Of
Kashmiri
Pandits'.
They
opined
that
it
is
misleading
as
viewers
would
assume
that
it
is
about
the
sufferings
of
the
Pandit
community,
which
is
not
at
the
forefront
of
the
story.
Vidhu
replied
to
the
open
letter
and
shared
his
point
of
view.
The
filmmaker
stated
that
the
film
is
a
tribute
to
his
mother,
as
it
is
her
story.
Agreeing
that
it
is
a
very
sensitive
topic,
he
reasoned
why
he
decided
to
go
with
the
tagline.
Vidhu
Says
Shikara
Was
His
Mother's
Story
Vidhu
wrote,
"Dear
Arbeena
and
Asif,
#EidMubarak
to
you
and
everyone
else
in
#Kashmir!
I
read
your
review
of
my
film
#Shikara
in
the
Kashmir
Observer.
I
liked
the
approach
you
have
taken
to
present
your
views.
Shikara
is
a
tribute
to
my
mother.
It
is
my
mother's
story."
'What
Happened
Was
Wrong'
Writing
that
the
exodus
of
Kashmiri
Pandits
that
happened
30
years
ago
is
a
‘dark
blot
on
our
history',
he
added,
"It
is
a
very
sensitive
topic.
What
happened
was
wrong.
People
were
thrown
out
of
their
homes
and
their
city.
Yes,
there
were
external
forces
which
created
this
unfortunate
divide
but
it
is
still
unresolved."
How
He
Tried
Not
To
Sensationalize
The
Issue
Explaining
how
he
tried
his
best
to
avoid
sensationalizing
the
issue,
he
shared
an
anecdote.
"I
walked
into
a
packed
theatre
for
one
of
the
first
screenings.
Three
hundred
people
stood
up
and
applauded.
Suddenly
one
lady
screamed
that
the
film
wasn't
representative
of
her
pain.
I
was
accused
of
commercializing
the
tragedy," he
wrote,
adding,
"I
spent
many
days
thinking
about
what
she
said.
And
I
realise
that
what
she
wanted
was
more
hate.
She
wanted
a
film
that
demonized
Muslims,
and
that
sowed
even
more
animosity
and
bloodshed."
He
Saw
His
Home
Destroyed
By
Hate
"Arbeena
and
Asif,
you
are
the
future.
The
way
you
shape
your
thinking
will
go
a
long
way
in
having
a
progressive
and
peaceful
Kashmir.
I
have
seen
my
home
destroyed
by
hate.
Do
not
let
it
consume
you.
I
want
the
future
of
Kashmir
to
be
different
from
its
past.
Insha
Allah!" he
signed
off.
Shikara
stars
debut
actors
Aadil
Khan
and
Sadia.
The
film
released
on
February
7,
2020.