Cinema of Kashmir

Kashmiri cinema is built around the Kashmiri language based film industry based in Kashmir Valley, India. The first Kashmiri feature film, Mainz Raat, was released in 1964. Kashmir is famous destination when it comes to shooting Bollywood films and many Kashmiri actors are well-known in Bollywood.

1960's to 1980's

The first feature film, Mainz Raat (Mehndi Raat/Henna ceremony), was released in 1964. It was directed by Jagjiram Pal and got great response from the kashmiri people and was honored with the President’s award. In 1972, the movie Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor was released. This film was based on writer and poet Mahjoor. Made in Urdu and Kashmiri, the movie was a joint venture between the Department of Information of the Jammu & Kashmir and Prabhat Mukherjee. Then, after a gap of 39 years, the movie Babaji (Bub/father) was made, directed by Jyoti Sarup, but it was not screened in Kashmir. A feature movie was produced in 1989, called Inqalaab, but due to the turbulent political situation at that time it was not released. Due to the 1989 insurgency, film making in Kashmir was stopped and an unofficial screening ban was imposed on Bollywood films.

2000's and after

In 2006, Akh Daleel Loolech (A story of love), the first digital feature film, was premiered in India. It was directed by Aarshad Mushtaq and dealt with the Kashmiri people's social and political struggle in the 19th century. In 2012, Kashmir’s first 35mm feature film Partav was released. This movie, Valley of Saints, was a romantic film set in Dal Lake, Srinagar, and also addressed environmental issues surrounding the lake. The film was directed by Musa Syeed.

Television

File:Aatish e kashmir.JPG

Kazi Mushtaque Ahmed’s play Aatish-e-Kashmir

There were also many television films produced in Kashmir.

• Rasool Mir (1974–75) directed by Bashir Badgami;
• Habba Khatoon (1977-1978) by Bashir Badgami
• Arnimaal (1982–83) directed by Siraj Qureshi

Documentaries

The first Kashmiri film to be shown at the famous Cannes Film Festival was the documentary film Pamposh (Lotus) made by Ezra Mir in 1952. Inshallah, Kashmir is a documentary made in 2012. The film was directed, produced, and written by Ashvin Kumar. Others notable Documentaries are:

• Papa 2 (2000)
• Ocean of Tears (2012)

Closure of Cinema Halls in Valley

Cinema Halls in Kashmir, including 7 halls in Srinagar, were closed due to the 1989 insurgency. In 1996, due to efforts of the National Conference government, the Broadway Cinema, followed by the Regal Cinema and the Neelam Cinema, showed Kareeb from Vidhu Vinod Chopra. However subsequently there were attacks on the Cinema Halls, and as a result, there have been no cinema showings in the Kashmir valley as of 2015, and DVD film piracy is flourishing.

Revival efforts

The biggest problems in reviving the Kashmiri film industry are budget problems, lack of financial support, and a total absence of any proper government policy regarding the local film industry. Despite this, in 2014, Kashmiri filmmaker Ali Emran decided to shoot a film in Kashmir based on the novel, The Fountainhead. and the movie Identity Card- Ek Lifeline (2014) by Kashmiri Film maker Rahat Kazmi's bagged 3 awards at the American International Film Festival. In November 2014, the film was also released worldwide. and the Prime minister stated that reviving the Kashmiri film industry would provide jobs for many Kashmiri young people. In May 2015, superstar Salman Khan said, during the shooting of the movie Bajrangi Bhaijaan that the cinema halls in Kashmir should be re-opened. Imtiaz Ali also praised the State Government for encouraging filmmakers in the valley after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed visited Mumbai for to meet with Bollywood industry personalities for this reason.

See also

• Music of Kashmir
• Kashmiri literature

External links

• Should cinemas theatres be reopened in Kashmir?