Sriram Raghavan Wasn't Happy With Ikkis' Disclaimer Calling Pakistan Untrustworthy

Mumbai, February 22 - Filmmaker Sriram Raghavan has addressed the controversy surrounding the strongly worded disclaimer shown at the end of his war drama Ikkis. The disclaimer, which stated that Pakistan is "not trustworthy" despite the film portraying a humane Pakistani military officer, triggered intense debate on social media soon after the film's release.

Speaking to The Wire in a recent conversation, Raghavan clarified that he was personally unhappy with the inclusion of the disclaimer. The director explained that the film itself aimed to highlight humanity amid conflict, especially through the character of a compassionate Pakistani brigadier. According to him, the added text diluted the emotional impact of the narrative and went against the tone he intended to leave audiences with at the end of the film.

The disclaimer at the end of Ikkis reads, "The humane treatment of Pakistani Brigadier K.M. Nisar is an exceptional case. Otherwise, our neighbouring country is not at all trustworthy. Pakistani forces have treated our soldiers and civilians with extreme cruelty and inhumanity, both in war and peacetime. They have blatantly violated the Geneva Conventions by torturing them on numerous occasions. Given the terrorist activities sponsored by Pakistan, as concerned citizens, we need to remain vigilant and prepared."

Raghavan further revealed that the disclaimer was added at the insistence of producer Dinesh Vijan, and not by his own choice. Drawing parallels with past experiences, the director mentioned how post-credit additions can sometimes disrupt a film's closing sentiment, noting that he prefers letting viewers interpret the story without being guided by overt messaging.

Starring Agastya Nanda alongside Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, Ikkis has largely been appreciated for its restrained storytelling and human-centric approach to war. However, the disclaimer controversy has overshadowed some of that praise, sparking discussions about creative freedom versus external pressures in politically sensitive films.

Stay tuned...