'The Kashmir Files' creates controversy in New Zealand
The Kashmir Files has courted controversy in New Zealand, with the country's chief censor reviewing the film's classification, a move that has been criticised by a former deputy PM
New Zealand outlet Stuff on Saturday reported that the country's chief censor David Shanks is reviewing the film's R16 classification after concerns were raised by the Muslim community.
Shanks told the outlet that the classification office's action does not mean the film is being banned in the country.
He added that the members of the Muslim community had approached him with concerns the film "could raise anti-Muslim sentiment and potential hatred”.
Shanks revealed that the situation was "complex" as the concerns of the community pertained to "behaviours on and offline in relation to the film, rather than the content of the film itself"
The chief censor's move has been criticised by Winston Peters, the country's former deputy prime minister and leader of the political party New Zealand First.
The Kashmir Files features Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty and Darshan Kumar. Since its release on March 11, the film has sparked a debate in India
Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Karnataka, Tripura and Goa, have exempted the film from entertainment tax