‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’ On Zee5 Review: Vivek Agnihotri-Pallavi Joshi’s Docu-Series Raises Questions, But Provides Very Little Solutions

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’: Cast & Crew

Director: Vivek Agnihotri

Cast: Vivek Agnihotri, Pallavi Joshi

Available On: Zee5

Duration: 7 Episodes, 40 Minutes Each

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’: Story

The series was announced by Vivek Agnihotri following harsh criticism of his film ‘The Kashmir Files’ by Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid at the International Film Festival of India. ‘Kashmir Files: Unreported’ is aimed to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. It aims to provide an understanding of the social complexities of the region, as well as examine the impact of the conflict on the lives of ordinary people living in Kashmir. The documentary series takes viewers through the troubled past of the Kashmir Valley, exploring the events that led to the dispute between India and Pakistan over the region. The real-life anecdotes, survivor testimonies, archived footage and geopolitical details about the events that led to an exodus and massacre of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. Thus, the circumstances that led to the abolition of Article 370. Will there be some answers for the issues finally? Will the Kashmiri Pandits finally get some closure? Will there be clarity on how much the movie has helped the victims? Well, for all that you’ll have to watch the series.

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’: Performances

Vivek Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi narrate the tales of the victims of the alleged genocide in the 1990s of Kashmiri Pandits decently. At places, the long pauses in between Pallavi Joshi's dialogues did not create the poignant emotion that they were looking for and rather felt too forced.

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’: Script, Direction & Technical Aspects

Vivek Agnihotri picks up on the directorial reigns from the exact place where he started for the film. He ensures that the real-life characters look, feel and sound real and not made up. He ensures that the pathos in their voices and the emotions in their eyes seep through to the audiences watching the show. The amount of research that he did for the film shows and it gives quite a realistic picture.

The writing by Pallavi Joshi and Vivek Agnihotri, however, has shortcomings. While the writing raises a lot of questions, just like the film, there is not much focus on the way forward. Only a very few of the victims speak up about what form if justice are they looking at. That would have been a lot more insightful. It would have helped other people (or even the people in power) to come forward and try to help out these Kashmiri Pandits in whatever way possible. Now, what happened is that with the numerous questions asked in the show, the problem comes out and people are now aware of the problem. However, as an outsider (as in not Kashmiri Pandit), it’s very difficult to fathom as to what should be the next course of action. What should we be protesting or asking from the Government so that these people who’ve been wronged can be given some semblance of justice? The show fails to bring this point out strongly. Had Joshi and Agnihotri put more emphasis on this aspect, maybe the show would have made more impact rather than just ending up being a rebuttal of theirs to the countless accusations of their film ‘The Kashmir Files’ being called a 'propaganda' film.

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’: Can Kids Watch It?

Yes

Outlook’s Verdict

‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’ tries to hit back at the accusations of ‘The Kashmir Files’ being labelled as a propaganda film by numerous sections of society. However, had the makers not tried to hit back and provide solutions more the problems at hand, that would have been a far more fulfilling watch. Let’s agree that almost every Indian has seen the film, and therefore they are slightly aware of the issues faced by the victims. Now, rather than just being a medium of rebuttal, this show could have actually been a game changer by providing solutions. It could have done what Aamir Khan’s ‘Satyameva Jayate’ used to do – start up conversations and at least try to provide useful solutions and show a way forward. ‘The Kashmir Files: Unreported’ misses that sorely. If you’re someone who’s absolutely unaware of the issues of the Kashmiri Pandits, this docu-series is definitely a Good One Time Watch. I am going with 3 stars.