Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
The Kashmir Files, a movie based on the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley, has amassed enormous social media attention since its release on March 11 with users zealously seeking ‘justice’ for Kashmiri pandits. With a box-office collection of over Rs 27 crore during the opening weekend, the Vivek Agnihotri-directorial project has received positive response from viewers including politicians. PM Narendra Modi himself congratulated makers of the movie for “daring to make a film on the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus during the Kashmir Insurgency.”
In this backdrop, a twenty five-second-long video of veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani claiming that he “himself reached the cinema hall to watch “The Kashmir Files” even at this age, probably could not stop himself and cried,” is doing the rounds of social media platforms. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue.
BJP leader Manveer Chauhan was among several Facebook users who posted the video claiming to show Advani crying after watching The Kashmir Files movie in theatre.
Directed by Vivek Agnihotri, the movie stars Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles. ‘The Kashmir Files‘ is a story, based on video interviews of the first generation victims of the ‘Genocide’ of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990.
In January 1990, the Pandit community, a minority in Kashmir, was given three options either to convert to Islam, leave Kashmir or get killed. This marked the beginning of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in huge numbers from the valley. Over 30 years later the displaced Kashmiri community continues to observe January 19 as the ‘holocaust day’ seeking justice.
Also Read: Viral Post Claiming PM Modi ‘Pretended’ To Write In Visitors Book Is Misleading
Fact Check/Verification
Newschecker conducted reverse image searches on Google by using keyframes of the viral video along with the keyword ‘Lal Krishna Advani’ and found multiple news reports from 2020 featuring stills from the viral video claiming to show Advani crying after watching The Kashmir Files.
According to a report by India Today, dated February 10, 2020 titled ‘LK Advani breaks down at Shikara screening. Watch video’, “Vidhu Vinod Chopra took to Twitter to share the clip of LK Advani watching Shikara in the national capital. The 45-second video shows Advani trying to hold back tears and Chopra rushing to the politician’s seat in order to console him. The clip also shows Advani’s daughter Pratibha sitting right next to him.”
The report also carried the video of Advani shared by Chopra on Twitter on February 7, 2020 with the caption, “Shri L K Advani at the special screening of #Shikara We are so humbled and grateful for your blessings and your appreciation for the film Sir.”
We also found a report by the Times of India, dated February 8, 2022 , carrying the viral video of Advani in a theatre. According to the report, “A special screening of the same was held in the National Capital, which was also attended by veteran politician LK Advani and his daughter Pratibha Advani.” Adding that director Vidhu Vinod Chopra shared a video of an emotional Advani after watching the film.
Newschecker continued the investigation and looked up the words ‘Lal Krishna Advani Shikara’ on YouTube and found the video was uploaded by several channels in 2020.
The video was also uploaded on the official YouTube channel of India TV on February 7, 2020 with the caption ‘LK Advani gets emotional after watching Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Shikara.’
The video was uploaded by several YouTube channels.
Conclusion
The viral video claiming to show Lal Krishna Advani crying after watching the Kashmir Files is misleading. The video is actually from 2020 and shows Advani getting emotional after watching the movie ‘Shikara.’
Result: False Context/False
Sources
YouTube Channel Of India TV
Twitter Account Of Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
