News TV anchor Rajdeep Sardesai recently said on his show that Vivek Agnihotri’s film on the mysterious death of Lal Bahadur Shastri, The Tashkent Files, was a propaganda film to be released just before the general election. Hurt, the filmmaker has sought a chance to explain what his creation is all about on the channel that has judged the film without seeing it.
New Delhi: Film director Vivek Agnihotri has accused TV journalist Rajdeep Sardesai of running a “propaganda” against his film. Agnihotri has alleged that Sardesai is driven by political prejudice.
During an interview with Vivek Oberoi who is playing Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his biopic, India Today’s Sardesai asked whether his movie was a propaganda film which was released just ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
Sardesai mentions The Accidental Prime Minister and Vivek Agnihotri's yet to be released The Tashkent Files and claims these are movies that question the Congress leadership.
The Tashkent Files, the plot of which revolves around the mysterious death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, is all set to be released on April 12.
Friends,
— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) April 3, 2019
Someone sent me the attached clip from Rajdeep Sardesai’s show.
Since Rajdeep Sardesai has blocked me, I have not other way to communicate to him.
Can someone send my note to him.
I am sure he will be fair. https://t.co/iGf3jfQRG5 pic.twitter.com/ESHgwNDE7t
Fuming over Sardesai’s bias, Agnihotri has written a note addressing him that says, “Last night in your prime show, you implicated that my upcoming film The Tashkent Files on Lal Bahadur Shastri's death is made to accuse Congress leadership. Have you seen the film? If no, how do you know that? Shouldn't this be considered propaganda against my film because you are politically prejudiced against me? If not, are you then trying to say that Congress indeed is guilty?”
Also Read: The Tashkent Files: Vivek Agnihotri dedicates movie to 'honest' journalists
Agnihotri dared Sardesai to invite him to his show for a one-on-one debate. “Since you haven't seen the film, you obviously don't know the facts. Is it okay to assume that you are trying to create a narrative before facts? You may hate me personally, but don't you think that ‘fair journalism’ demands that you talk to me one-on-one in your show? If you don't, is it right for me to assume that you chose the prejudiced political agenda before ‘fair journalism’?”
Agnihotri also mentioned in his note that he will wait for someone from Sardesai’s office to invite him to the studio of the aforementioned television channel for debate as the journalist in question, the filmmaker says, cannot throw an accusation and run away. Agnihotri says he deserves a chance to explain himself.
Last Updated Apr 3, 2019, 11:09 AM IST