Apologies if my remarks were interpreted differently: Nadav Lapid

Offering a total apology if his remarks on The Kashmir Files had been misinterpreted Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid has said his aim was not to insult the Kashmiri Pandit community or those who had sufferedLapid who was the international jury chair at the recent International Film Festival of India IFFI and stirred massive controversy by terming the Vivek Agnihotri film vulgar and a propaganda reiterated that he only criticised the film for its series of cinematic manipulations I didnt want to insult anyone My aim was never to insult the people or their relatives who have suffered I totally apologise if thats the way they interpreted it Lapid who has left the country since his remarks at the closing ceremony of the 53rd edition of the festival in Goa this week told news channel CNNNews18 on Wednesday nightBut at the same time whatever I said and I said clearly that for me and my fellow jury members it was and it is a vulgar propaganda movie that didnt have a place and was inappropriate for such a prestigious competitive section I can repeat it again and again he addedThe Kashmir Files written and directed by Vivek Agnihotri centres on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits during militancy in the early 1990s It was screened at the festival on November 22 under the Indian Panorama sectionThe acclaimed director known for his antiestablishment stance said his remarks were neither a statement on the political situation in Kashmir nor a denial of the tragedyI have enormous respect for the tragedy victims survivors and for whoever suffers there It my remarks was not at all about this Ill repeat these words 10000 times if I have to say that I was not talking about the political issue historical equation or disrespecting the tragedy that happened in Kashmir he saidI was talking about the movie and that such serious topics deserve in my opinion a serious film he added Lapid also dismissed claims made by IFFI international jury member Sudipto Sen who had said the comments on Agnihotris directorial were the Israeli directors personal opinionAlso ReadlsquoYou Should Be Ashamedrsquo Israel Envoy On Nadav Lapidrsquos Remark On lsquoThe Kashmir FilesrsquoIt wasnt a personal opinion at all Lapid counteredWe all thought that the movie used a series of manipulation vulgar violence because it was supposed to transmit a message that can cause hostility violence and hate in the environment he addedA day after the controversy erupted Agnihotri said he would quit filmmaking if intellectuals including Lapid were able to prove that events depicted in his film were falseAsked to comment on Agnihotris statement the filmmaker said it was a natural reaction from the The Kashmir Files helmerIm sure that the director is furious I would be furious too if someone would talk about my film the same way My films are often looked upon as very controversial and polemic Certain people have said some very harsh and horrible things about my moviesThe filmmaker knows very well that the question is not what exactly were the facts None of us in the jury especially myself ever doubted the facts I dont have any capacity the tools to say what happened in Kashmir Lapid who lives mostly in France saidAlso ReadAs storm rages over The Kashmir Files X on his luggage upsets Vivek AgnihotriLapid came under attack not just by The Kashmir Files team but also several BJP leaders and Israels Ambassador to India Naor Gilon as well as its Consul General to Midwest India Kobbi ShoshaniAlthough he Israeli ambassador was absolutely aware of the fact that I was talking about the movie as propaganda he blamed me for talking disrespectfully about the tragedy in Kashmir which is total nonsense He is aware of it but he is a manipulator He knew I was judging the movie as a filmmaker he told the channelLapid thanked IFFI for inviting him to be the head of the international juryBut since I was called to Goa in order to serve as the president of the jury as I did in dozens of festivals the biggest ones like Cannes Berlin and others My duty my obligation was to tell the truth as I see it he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever