Vivek Agnihotri chose not to attend this year’s Filmfare Awards, where his film The Kashmir Files is nominated in seven different categories, including Best Director. Vivek has stated that he does not want to be an element of an “oppressive and fraudulent system or awards that treats writers, directors, and other HODs and crew members of a film as inferior to and/or as slaves to stars.” In response to a tweet regarding this year’s Filmfare nominations, Vivek wrote a long note blasting the awards and discussing the creation of a new parallel Hindi film industry.
On Thursday, Vivek announced on Twitter, “I learned from media that #TheKashmirFiles is nominated in 7 categories for the 68th Filmfare Awards.” However, I politely decline to participate in these unethical and anti-cinema awards. This is why: Except for the stars, no one has a face, according to Filmfare. Nobody is important. As a result, Master Directors like Sanjay Bhansali and Sooraj Barjatya have no faces in the sycophantic and unethical world of Filmfare. Sanjay Bhansali resembles Alia Bhatt, Sooraj resembles Mr. Bachchan, and Annes Bazmi resembles Karthik Aryan. Filmfare Awards do not confer dignity on filmmakers, but this humiliating system must be abolished.“
“As an expression of protest and disagreement against a corrupt, immoral, and sycophant Bollywood establishment, I made the choice not to accept such awards,” he stated. I refuse to be a part of any repressive and unfair system or awards that consider writers, directors, and other HODs and crew members of a film as lesser to and/or slaves to stars.”
“My congratulations to everyone who wins and even more to those who do not,” he added, applauding those who did not win. The bright side is that I’m not alone. Slowly but steadily, a parallel Hindi cinema industry is forming. So, till then…” He then added lyrics from a Dushyant Kumar poem about rebelling for change, as well as the hashtag #HumDekhenge (we’ll see).
Kamaal R Khan, a self-proclaimed film critic, responded to Vivek Agnihotri tweet with, “Bhai Sahab, the right decision.” That was a brave decision. “I salute you.”
In addition to Vivek’s nomination for Best Director, The Kashmir Files is nominated for Best Film, and Best Screenplay, Anupam Kher for Best Actor, Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumar for Best Supporting Actor. Last year, it was one of the highest-grossing Hindi films.
