Dada Saheb Phalke Award 2023: "The Kashmir Files" wins the 'Best Film' award

Vivek Agnihotri's "The Kashmir Files" has won the ‘Best Film’ award at this year's Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Awards. 

Agnihotri took to his Twitter handle to announce that his film has won the Best Film award that was held last night.

The award ceremony was held on Monday, February 20. During the award function, Alia Bhatt received an award for her role in “Gangubai Kathiawadi”. Anupam Kher, Ranbir Kapoor, Rekha, Varun Dhawan, Rishab Shetty, and others were also honoured.

Meanwhile, RRR, directed by SS Rajamouli and starring Junior NTR and Ram Charan, was named Film of the Year.

Anupam Kher, tone of the lead actors of the movie took to Twitter to share photos and videos of their entire team receiving the award.

Earlier in May last year, Singapore banned "The Kashmir Files" for its “provocative” and biased depiction of Muslims in the film.

The authorities had said, "The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the ongoing conflict in Kashmir.These representations have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious society."

Nadav Lapid, jury head, International Film Festival of India (IFFI) had openly criticized Vivek Agnihorti’s film and called it "vulgur" and a propoganda film.

The Israeli screenwriter and film director said the film shouldn’t have been screened in the prestigious film festival in the first place.

Saying that he was ‘distrubed and shocked’ to see the "Kashmir Files" Lipid had opined that the film has “fascist features”. Later, Lapid’s remarks had then attracted massive backlash from the Indian right wing as well as the Israeli state authorities.

Israel’s ambassador to India Naor Gilon had reacted strongly against Lapid’s statements, claiming that the latter had “abused” his invitation to an Indian film festival.