The decision to award The Kashmir Files the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film in the National Integration category has caused quite a stir. The Vivek Agnihotri-directed film was the subject of intense controversy after some people felt that the film was a propaganda tool to incite hatred against Muslims in the country.

The recent recognition that the film received at the National Awards did not go down well with many people, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who suggested that the jury’s decision was “cheap politics”. “The dignity of national awards should not be compromised through cheap politics,” he said, adding that he was shocked that a “controversial film was honored with the National Integrity Nargis Dutt Award”.

Politicians like Omar Abdullah also made fun of the jury’s decision by posting a laughing emoji along with a news report about the awards ceremony. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the decision and accused the prime minister of promoting films like The Kerala Story and The Kashmir Files. He added that The Kashmir Files was based on fiction and not facts.

During the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), jury chief Nadav Lapid criticized “The Kashmir Files” and described the film as “vulgar” and “inappropriate”.