Naseeruddin Shah calls The Kerala Story, Gadar 2 and The Kashmir Files “disturbing”; says, “Now the more jingoist you are, the more popular you become”

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has expressed his dismay at the popularity of films like The Kashmir Files, Gadar 2, and The Kerala Story. In an interview with Free Press Journal, Shah said that he finds it “disturbing” that these films, which he describes as “jingoistic” and “divisive”, are so popular, while films that attempt to portray the truth of our times are not.

Shah said, “Yes! Now the more jingoist you are the more popular you become, because this is what has been ruling this country. It’s not enough to love your country but beat drums about it and you have to create imaginary enemies. What these people don’t realise is that what they are doing is very harmful. In fact, films like (The) Kerala Story and Gadar 2, I haven’t seen them, but I know what they are about. It’s disturbing that films like (The) Kashmir Files are so massively popular whereas films made by Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, and Hansal Mehta, who are trying to portray the truth of their times, don’t get seen.”

Shah also expressed his support for filmmakers who are trying to make films that reflect the reality of the world we live in. He explained, “It’s important that these filmmakers don’t lose heart and continue telling stories. They will be responsible for posterity. Hundred years later people will see Bheed and they will also see Gadar 2 and see which one portrays the truth of our times because film is the only medium which could do that.”

“It’s hard to resort to abstraction and capture life as it is. So regressive is a pretty mild word for what’s going on, it’s frightening where filmmakers are being coopted into making films which praise all the wrong things and rundown other communities for no reason at all. It’s a dangerous trend,” he said to conclude his point.

Coming to the professional front, Shah is making headlines for his directorial venture Man Woman Man Woman, a short film. The film also stars Ratna Pathak Shah.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Naseeruddin Shah says, “Mughals didn’t come here to loot, they came here to make this their homeland”