With Ashvin Kumar’s No Father In Kashmir facing difficulties to get the desired clearance certificate, several celebrities have come out with support for the Oscar-nominated director’s new short film. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had given it an A certificate suggesting several cuts, but Kumar wants U/A certification for the film so that it could be viewed by a larger audience, citing that the story deserved to reach all. He had then moved FCAT, the apex body that settles disputes when CBFC denies certification or a filmmaker wishes to challenge the decision.

The film featuring Soni Razdan, Anshuman Jha and Kulbulshan Kharbanda among others tells a love story of two 16-year-olds set against the backdrop of Kashmir who are individually in search of their missing fathers.

After a barrage of social media support from filmmakers, actors and other personalities including Shashi Tharoor and Swara Bhaskar, now actress Alia Bhatt, daughter of Soni Razan, has taken to social media to express her support, along with a plea to the authorities to give clearance to the film.

She tweeted, “Was soo looking forward to mom’s  @nofathers_movie #nofathersinkashmir!! @Soni_Razdan @ashvinkumar & team worked super hard for this honest teens love story in Kashmir. Really hope the CBFC would #lifttheban. It’s a film about empathy & compassion..let’s give love a chance”

Was soo looking forward to mom’s @nofathers_movie #nofathersinkashmir!! @Soni_Razdan @ashvinkumar & team worked super hard for this honest teens love story in Kashmir. Really hope the CBFC would #lifttheban. It’s a film about empathy & compassion..let’s give love a chance!🌺🙏❤️

— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) January 17, 2019

No Fathers in Kashmir has been in censor trouble for the last almost 6 months after its application in July and its first viewing in October.

Earlier, Swara Bhasker had tweeted, saying, “The film ‘No Fathers in Kashmir’ – Directed by Academy Award Nominee & two time National Award Winner #AshivnKumar- has been stuck with the Censor Board for over 6months now, delaying its release. Film is now gng bak & forth betwn #CBFC & FCAT. pls take note!”

Earlier, Swara Bhasker had tweeted, saying, “The film ‘No Fathers in Kashmir’ – Directed by Academy Award Nominee & two time National Award Winner #AshivnKumar- has been stuck with the Censor Board for over 6months now, delaying its release. Film is now gng bak & forth betwn #CBFC & FCAT. pls take note!”

Shashi Tharoor said in his tweet, “Oscar nominee & 2-time National Award winner @ashvinkumar’s new film @nofathersmovie (tipped as 1 of 10 eagerly awaited films of 2019) remains banned over 6 months, delaying its release & forfeiting application for NationalAwards this year. Unconscionable!”

Spaking about the film, Soni Razdan said, “I’m happy that Swara, Shashi Tharoor and Pritish have shared their thoughts in support of the film. It’s an excellent film that totally deserves to be seen. There is no good reason that it shouldn’t. It’s saddening that the censor board seems to think otherwise. I would have thought they would have welcomed the opportunity to put out a story on Kashmir that would help lead to a greater understanding of the issues faced by people there … after all we want to bridge the gap between truths and half truths, lies and misconceptions do we not? And this story is told through the eyes of two innocent teenagers, making it all the more poignant and beautiful.”

On the other hand, director Ashvin Kumar said, “It takes a lot to speak out fearlessly in the times we live in. Swara Bhaskar, Shashi Tharoor, Pritish Nandy, Soni Razdan have all expressed solidarity with our film. It is a vote for a story that tries to create a sense of empathy in the Kashmir narrative that has only been about fear and hatred. Their support inspires all of us not to back down and keep challenging those who would prefer that reality and truth remains buried.”