ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi has written to New Zealand’s Chief Censor to take a holistic, balanced and fair view of the matter within the remit of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993, and not as a result of disinformation and political activism led by some sections of vested interests.
The issue of reconsideration of Bollywood movie Kashmir Files by NZ’s Chief Censor after some concerns were raised after the first approval of the release of the movie under R16 classification continues to rake many emotions as the community awaits the outcome of Censor’s review process with abated breath.
Raising the points in support of the release of the movie in his letter to Chief Censor David Shanks High Commissioner Pardeshi said, “The film is about the exodus of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits and gruesome atrocities perpetrated by the extremists on them in the 1990s.”
“The film intends to educate future generations about the menace of extremism and terrorism which can create havoc for safe and peaceful co-existence of communities all over the world,” Mr Pardeshi said.
Pointing further towards the seemingly unsubstantiated concerns raised with the Censor office Mr Pardeshi said, “An erroneous, biased and politically-motivated impression is being created in the minds of New Zealand audience that the film is likely to create a sense of disharmony and Islamophobia.
“The fact of the matter is that the film is about a tragic episode which occurred more than three decades ago, and the present generation deserves to know historical events in a correct and truthful perspective. There have been no cases of disharmony and any breach of peace in India or elsewhere in the world where the film is currently being shown.”
“We all believe in the fundamental principle of freedom of expression. If there were no freedom of expression, the humankind would have not seen films and books on wars, holocaust, political conflicts and other tragic historical events,” Mr Pardeshi concluded making his case in support of the release of the movie in NZ.
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi has written to New Zealand’s Chief Censor to take a holistic, balanced and fair view of the matter within the remit of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993, and not as a result of disinformation and political activism...
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh Pardeshi has written to New Zealand’s Chief Censor to take a holistic, balanced and fair view of the matter within the remit of the Films, Videos, and Publication Classification Act 1993, and not as a result of disinformation and political activism led by some sections of vested interests.
The issue of reconsideration of Bollywood movie Kashmir Files by NZ’s Chief Censor after some concerns were raised after the first approval of the release of the movie under R16 classification continues to rake many emotions as the community awaits the outcome of Censor’s review process with abated breath.
Raising the points in support of the release of the movie in his letter to Chief Censor David Shanks High Commissioner Pardeshi said, “The film is about the exodus of Kashmiri Hindu Pandits and gruesome atrocities perpetrated by the extremists on them in the 1990s.”
“The film intends to educate future generations about the menace of extremism and terrorism which can create havoc for safe and peaceful co-existence of communities all over the world,” Mr Pardeshi said.
Pointing further towards the seemingly unsubstantiated concerns raised with the Censor office Mr Pardeshi said, “An erroneous, biased and politically-motivated impression is being created in the minds of New Zealand audience that the film is likely to create a sense of disharmony and Islamophobia.
“The fact of the matter is that the film is about a tragic episode which occurred more than three decades ago, and the present generation deserves to know historical events in a correct and truthful perspective. There have been no cases of disharmony and any breach of peace in India or elsewhere in the world where the film is currently being shown.”
“We all believe in the fundamental principle of freedom of expression. If there were no freedom of expression, the humankind would have not seen films and books on wars, holocaust, political conflicts and other tragic historical events,” Mr Pardeshi concluded making his case in support of the release of the movie in NZ.
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