Just when it looked like all the controversies around The Kashmir Files had subsided, the film was firmly put back in the jarring spotlight after the jury head of the recently concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) deemed it “vulgar”, and an unfit choice for the festival’s competitive section.

Though Israeli director Nadav Lapid claimed that his co-jurors shared his opinion that the film that “disturbed and shocked” them “felt like a propaganda”, co-juror Sudipto Sen distanced himself from the stance. “It is his personal opinion, because, officially, no discussion happened between [the five jurors]. [At the ceremony], while announcing the awards, we were to read our citation from a printed page, which was [presented to] the festival authorities. But, Nadav expressed his own views. We were not consulted,” says Sen, adding that jury members often refrain from political commentary on the shortlisted movies.