Dubai: Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has weighed in on the ongoing debate around so-called “propaganda films,” saying that storytelling, by its very nature, is never entirely neutral. Speaking to reporters in Kolkata after being honoured by a jewellery brand, Akhtar addressed criticism surrounding films like Dhurandhar , which have been labelled by some as pro-establishment. “I don’t quite understand what people mean when they say ‘propaganda films’,” he said, adding that he personally enjoyed Dhurandhar . “I liked the first part more than the second, but I thought it was a very well-made film.” Akhtar argued that every film inevitably reflects a point of view. “All stories take a position in some way. Does it become propaganda simply because that viewpoint doesn’t align with a section of the audience?” he asked. He went on to say that filmmakers have the right to express their ideas through their work. “Everyone has the freedom to present their perspective.…