The film, a collaboration between a Kashmiri Muslim and a Pandit, tells the story of a warm and common past shared by communities and their sufferings.
The film, a collaboration between a Kashmiri Muslim and a Pandit, tells the story of a warm and common past shared by communities and their sufferings.
The bitterness between Kashmiri Muslims and Pandits has increased in recent times. However, Danish Renju, a Kashmiri Muslim filmmaker and Sunaina Kachru, a Kashmiri Pandit writer-producer, have collaborated on a 10-minute film titled Good News To heal the wounds of bitter communities seeing their common past and sufferings.
Good NewsStarring Saloni Patel and Gauri Batra, the film starring Hindu-Muslim friends will premiere on Saturday during the Tongues on Fire UK Asian Film Festival in London. talking to Hindu Ahead of the release, filmmaker Renzu, who garnered accolades for earlier films illegal And half widow described Good News As a project that started with the killings of members of the minorities by gunmen in Kashmir in 2021.
ruining kashmiri sufi culture
“I was in Srinagar in 2021 when there were attacks on minority members in September-October. It was inhumane… that’s what led to this short film. It is based on true events. Its purpose is to bring people together”
“I was in Srinagar in 2021 when minority members were attacked in September-October. It was inhuman. Whoever is responsible for the heinous acts is trying to create division and rift in the Valley. That’s the point of this short film. Cause it’s based on true events. It aims to bring people together.”
“How can one justify such dastardly killings of innocent human lives on grounds of religion or even what they wear? This is a sheer death of humanity and is unacceptable. The divide in the valley The forces are trying to uplift the country. Peace and pure Sufi Kashmiri culture,” he said.
Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit families left the Valley and migrated to different parts of the country in the 1990s to face militancy and violence.
Mr. Renzu believes that the time has come to see the two communities living together again. “I was born in a time when Pandits were already gone. I’ve heard great things about how Muslims and Pandits will live together. And how Pandits left the Valley because of violence against them. Today’s Generation We have the opportunity to not only touch on these topics but also to respond and bring people together. The Kashmir conflict has affected all communities.”
element of hope
Mr Renzu said, this 10-minute film is not only talking about the happenings in the valley but it also highlights the element of hope. “Partition in the 1990s has affected all aspects of Kashmir. Any place moves forward with diversity as it plays an integral role in development. Divided communities affected the economy of Jammu and Kashmir and its future. It is my imperative as a filmmaker to bring in everyone from different perspectives and people’s plights and sacrifices,” he said.
The film looks to the common past and explores Hindu-Muslim relations through long-standing friendship. “It is an attempt to look at the human condition and the narratives of ordinary people,” Mr. Renzu said.
For Kashmiri Pandit Kachroo, the film is a nostalgic journey of how two friends share their little joys. He said, “It is sad how terrorism has affected these small acts including love, humanity and identity. As a co-producer, I am happy to bring this human story to the fore.”
It remains to be seen if Good NewsOnce released in India, will heal wounds and revive lost friendship between communities.