welcome to kashmir The film is scheduled to release on 26 May at INOX, Shivpora, Srinagar, the only multiplex in Kashmir, to be opened in September 2022. photo credit: imdb.com
After more than 50 years in the tumultuous cinema history of Kashmir, here are the promos of a locally produced Bollywood film, welcome to kashmirwere released in a cinema hall in Srinagar, a huge leap for the otherwise dormant film industry, with just one cinema hall functioning in the Valley and over a dozen halls shut down in the past 30 years.
The film is scheduled to release on 26 May at INOX, Shivpora, Srinagar, the only multiplex in Kashmir slated to open in September 2022. “The inspiration behind the film was a positive portrayal of Kashmir. Bollywood directors come and shoot in Kashmir but the portrayal is mostly negative and focuses only on a particular subject. The film is about Kashmiri culture, its people and social issues like drug addiction and women empowerment,” said Kashmir-born Bollywood director Tariq Ahmed Bhat.
Kashmir effort began with film production in 1964 Manjirat (‘Mehendi Ceremony’), the first film to be shown in a cinema hall in Srinagar, to the enthusiasm of the locals. followed by mahjoor In 1972. last such film RevolutionWas produced in 1989 but could not be released due to the outbreak of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. Eleven cinema halls in the Valley were shut down amid rampant violence and growing protests of the 1990s.
“We intend to take Kashmiri film to other states in India and also abroad. We have subtitled Kashmiri songs for our non-Kashmiri audience,” Mr Bhat said.
In 2006, a locally produced digital feature film, akh dalel luluch (‘A Story of Love’) was made, but could not release in theaters as they were all closed.
Mr. Bhat said welcome to kashmir It will be a unique film as the entire crew is from Kashmir. “The film will highlight the serious problem of drug addiction prevailing in the valley. In this the local women are also empowered enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts in other parts of the country,” said Mr. Bhat, who organized the screening of the film’s promos in Srinagar.
In the last two years, a large number of filmmakers from across the country have shot their films in Kashmir. Official figures say that in 2022, around 300 films were shot in Kashmir.
“Around 300 locations including untouched destinations have been identified for filmmakers and directors to shoot in Kashmir. This year our focus is on promoting film tourism. He said that Kashmir offers a better destination than Europe.