A film director has hit back at what he calls a coordinated 'smear campaign' after announcing the UK premiere of his movie in Solihull.
Premiere Announcement Triggers Backlash
Arfat Sheikh, the director behind the drama Saffron Kingdom, says his film faced no significant criticism during screenings in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States since its initial 2024 release. However, after revealing plans for a premiere at Cineworld Solihull on January 10 at 6pm, the project was targeted on social media platform X.
Several accounts labelled the film, which explores the history of Kashmir and themes of diaspora, as 'anti-India propaganda'. Speaking to BirminghamLive, Sheikh expressed his surprise at the sudden reaction, noting the film had three previous screenings in London without incident.
A Personal Project Challenging Narratives
Saffron Kingdom is an 80-minute drama based on true stories from Kashmir. Sheikh, who was born and raised in the region and now lives in exile for safety reasons, aimed to challenge how Kashmiri people are depicted in mainstream cinema, particularly Bollywood.
"Movies would show Kashmiri people dehumanised and used as a way to justify what is happening," he said. "We were always the terrorists and antagonists in movies."
The director emphasised his approach is humanistic, stating: "My movie isn't an anti-India movie, it's anti-Indian occupation and I'm not vilifying people." He revealed the production challenges, including being unable to hire Kashmiri actors for fear of persecution.
Looking Beyond the Controversy
Despite the online criticism, Sheikh reports receiving a positive response and numerous requests to screen the film in other UK cities. "I don't think the smear campaign has worked," he added.
The film was shot predominantly in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2019, incorporating external footage of Kashmir. Sheikh describes it as the first feature film by a Kashmiri director that actively dismantles the established Bollywood narrative about the region.
He hopes Saffron Kingdom will speak to a broad audience, offering an overview of events in Kashmir through a personal lens. The Solihull premiere proceeds as planned, marking a significant moment for the independent production.
