Vijay Agnihotri has been widely appreciated for his movie, The Kashmir Files, which has been highly acclaimed by the public and critics alike. The movie documented the experience of Kashmiri pandits who had to face exodus and genocide from the Kashmir valley. The movie released on March 11, 2022, became one of the most successful movies after the pandemic. It did extraordinarily well at the Box office as well.
After its success, Agnihotri is ready to work on a new movie. The name of this upcoming project is The Delhi Files. Apparently, he plans to release it in theatres this summer itself. Although he hasn’t given any concrete details about the movie itself, it is speculated that it would either be based on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots or the riots which took place in 2020. However, much like his other films, the Kashmir Files also managed to find itself a subject of controversies.
People’s Opinion On The Kashmiri Files
The movie starring numerous acclaimed actors found itself amidst reviews on both extremes of the spectrum. Some people claimed that it furthered the agenda of the ruling BJP and aimed to exacerbate differences between communities. On the other hand, certain people could not stop hailing it as a masterpiece of a movie that brings to light harsh truths about a particularly controversial and often overlooked topic.
No matter what your opinion of the movie is, it cannot be denied that Vivek Agnihotri is one of those filmmakers who are always able to build on new concepts without making them feel repetitive, while also containing a profound message for the viewer. Tashkent Files, another one of his movies, is considered a great film as well. It is based on the untimely death of India’s second Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri. His filmography always manages to impress the people.
The Release Of The Delhi Files
After the Kashmir Files reached its massive success, filmmaker Vijay Agnihotri came forward on Twitter on April 15 to publicly announce the release of his next film, the Delhi Files. He also discussed his ambitions for the movie. He intended to display gratitude in return for the support and love garnered by him through his fans everywhere. He talked about how it took him four years’ worth of hard work to create this movie. This patience and labor were apparently worth it for Agnihotri as he wanted to bring awareness to the injustices faced by Kashmiri Hindus on their own land including the genocide that they were subjected to.
On the same Friday, he also made an announcement for the release of his next movie, the Delhi Files. Ever since the virtual announcement was made, dedicated fans have been jumping with excitement. This enthusiasm is reflected in their use of the hashtag #TheDelhiFiles, which was also trending on Twitter.
The Delhi Files – Story
Much like the Kashmir Files, which was based on the real-life events of the genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Kashmir Valley, the Delhi Files is also going to be based on actual events. Agnihotri’s new project will show the events of the anti-Sikh riots of 1989 and how they transpired after the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India on October 31, 1984. These riots led to the unfortunate deaths of more than 3000 Sikhs in New Delhi and approximately 8000-17000 deaths total.
The anti-Sikh riots encompass one of the darkest periods in India’s modern history. The separatist Khalistan movement demanded independence from India and it is considered responsible for the bloodshed that was witnessed in Punjab all throughout the 1980s. This period saw a number of organized murders where members of the Sikh community were targeted. The perpetrators used iron rods, gasoline, clubs, and fuels to create trouble in peaceful households.
Some sections of the Sikh community have already raised objections to the film. The Maharashtra Sikh Association clarified that it is strictly against the commercialization of tragic events in the name of creativity. Agnihotri is unbothered by the opposition’s views and muses how people have no idea about the concept and yet they’re still planning to curb it.
Other Details About The Delhi Files
Shooting
Vivek Agnihotri was particularly excited about the announcement of his new project, the Delhi Files. However, his fans showed through their tweets and posts that they were even more excited than him about his next film. They have been appreciating him for his previous works and wishing him luck in his future endeavors.
Cast
As of now, there is no official information about the cast of the movie. There has only been limited information about the main crew members. Vivek Agnihotri directs the film while Abhishek Agrawal, Archana Agrawal, and Pallavi Joshi are producers for the movie. It is produced by Abhishek Agarwal Arts and Vivek Agnihotri’s I am Buddha Production. Pallavi Joshi is apparently filling in the shoes of an extremely important character.
Poster
The director planned to complete the trilogy with The Delhi Files after the release of The Tashkent Files and the Kashmir Files. According to him, it describes the ‘untold stories of independent India’. In September 2021, the director, Agnihotri revealed the poster of the film, the Delhi files. The poster also had the tagline on it – Right to life. It is available on Google and Youtube. It shows a pillar of India that is colored and there is the imagery of a presumably Sikh child leaning against it.
Due to the excellent portrayal of events of the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in the movie, the Kashmir Files, fans are even more excited for the Delhi Files.
Budget
The budget of the movie, the Delhi Files is estimated to be approximately Rs. 10 crores.
Delhi Files Release Date
The film was first announced by Vivek Agnihotri on Twitter on 15 April 2022. The announcement was made after the release and the subsequent success of the second movie in the Files trilogy, the Kashmir Files. The movie is set to release in October 2022.
The Tashkent Files was the first movie in the franchise, which talked about the Right to Truth. The second movie, The Kashmir Files goes on to talk about the Right to Justice. The third and last installment in the franchise, the Delhi Files talks about the Right to Life, as seen through the poster.