Here’s Why Students Are Upset With Depiction Of JNU In ‘The Kashmir Files’

This wasn’t the first time a film enraged viewers by depicting something that a segment of the population didn’t agree with.

The Kashmir Files is the only film that has sparked a national debate. Despite the absence of famous actors or fresh marketing, a film has inspired such widespread interest in Indian cinema for the first time. It’s also worth mentioning that numerous renowned names have spoken out against the film, while others have remained silent.

Even many celebrities and openly come in support of this movie such as Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Yami Gautam, Vidyut Jamwal.

Besides this, political parties, including the ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), have spoken out in support of the film. Even the film has even gained the endorsement of the Prime Minister. On the other side, opposition leaders have branded the film as propaganda or half-truth by the ruling government.

आज #TheKashmirFiles की टीम के साथ भेंट की।

अपने ही देश में अपना घर छोड़ने को मजबूर हुए कश्मीरी पंडितों के बलिदान, असहनीय पीड़ा और संघर्ष की सच्चाई इस फिल्म के माध्यम से पूरी दुनिया के सामने आई है, जो एक बहुत ही प्रशंसनीय प्रयास है। pic.twitter.com/Lt2OLB2sVm

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 16, 2022

The film is doing great business at the box office and smashed several records. While everything didn’t go well with this film, one more controversy came in the middle of its path.

It’s the portrayal of JNU as ANU in the film. For unknown, Jawaharlal Nehru University, also known as JNU is portrayed as ANU in the film. This fact was itself admitted by Vivek Agnihotri, the director of the film.

Even the professor’s role Radhika Menon which Pallavi Joshi plays in the film is a realistic portrayal of two people. One is Arundhati Roy, a well-known author and the other is Nivedita Menon, JNU’s professor and well-known political scientist. Their role not only portrays the anti-establishment culture of JNU which sometimes become anti-India but also resonates with how young minds can be brainwashed against their own country, as depicted in the film.

Actor Pallavi Joshi (L)/JNU professor Nivedita Menon (R)jagrantv

Obviously, people will get angry when someone portrays them as villains. That’s what happened with some of the JNU students. It is worth mentioning that not all students are the same and that’s their main problem with this film.

Even those JNU students, who, even if they somewhat agree with the portrayal of their university in the film The Kashmir Files, believe that JNU continues to play a crucial role as a national building block.

The character of Radhika Menon in The Kashmir Files movie, performed by Pallavi Joshi, is inspired by the JNU Professor Nivedita Menon, a well-known political scientist and author of the book Seeing Like a Feminist. Menon is a professor at the JNU. pic.twitter.com/FCk0FVzFRK

— Anoop Menon (@anoopmenon_108) March 20, 2022

In conversation with Times Now, many JNU students talked about The Kashmir Files. Have a look at some of the chats:

According to Siddhant, a PhD student at JNU,

“Most of the students and faculty members at JNU, do not hold views that are opposed to national interests. Neither are they involved, in any way, with such divisive things.”

When it comes to blasting people like Professor Menon, on the other hand, believes it is absolutely important.

Another university student, Deepanshu, shared,

“I have seen the film and such films should continue to be made. People of all communities should know how the Kashmiri pandits suffered in the Valley. We all feel that making such films has become even more important when the government has not taken adequate steps against the criminals.”

He added,

“This is not an issue with this institution alone. JNU also gives back a lot to the country. We are everywhere in the country supporting and contributing towards nation-building. There is immense scope for positive debate among students studying here. Students have the freedom to speak, learn, understand and have a platform to voice their opinions.”

Another student, Sabarish, spoke forward in defence of the university, saying,

“JNU is just like any other university. There are obviously students and staff members with different views. But their controversial statements are only used to highlight this place as the citadel of divisiveness by filmmakers and journalists. The university has also been imparting quality education for decades now. It is one of the top universities in the country.”

Netizens also shared their views on micro blogging site Twitter

It is really strange that India’s 2nd ranked university JNU is targeted in Kashmir Files movie from where we have got bright leaders like Nirmala Sitharaman & Jaishankar. Strange!

— Sunderdeep – Volklub (@volklub) March 23, 2022

The movie “The Kashmir Files” talks about the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits during their so-called “exodus” on & from 19 January, 1990.

But this movie also tries to misrepresent some true facts, defame JNU, blame some selective politicians and so on.#TheKashmiriFiles

— Saptadip Chakraborty (@SapChak2003) March 16, 2022

To everyone alarmed at #KashmirFiles scenes where Pallavi Joshi’s character yells that India will be in “tukde tukde”, let me assure you that in my time at JNU not a single prof. ended or started or even mentioned anything about tukde tukde bits of India.

— Vasundhara Sirnate (@vsirnate) March 18, 2022