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India Today
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Beyond beauty, beneath pain: Why filmmakers keep returning to a wounded Kashmir?
Indian cinema's love for Kashmir is beyond its beauty. The stunning skies, colourful shikaras dancing in the middle of the Dal lake, and the dazzling snow-capped mountains make every frame look like it was painted by God herself. But, that's not the only reason why filmmakers keep returning to the Valley despite its turbulent history has been written with so much pain and drama that the place's existence looks straight from a full-fledged commercial Hindi film. The more you explore, the more it resembles an epic tale - unbelievable, yet hauntingly real. The language of the place attracts a creative mind to dig into more about its history, its people, the culture and the future as Kashmir as the backdrop of any story means making the Valley look like an unspoken character in the film. Something that director Vishal Bharadwaj did in 'Haider'. Or that Shakti Samanta did in 1964 by setting a love story between Sharmila Tagore and Shammi Kapoor in 'Kashmir Ki Kali'. In 1965, Kashmir again served as the backdrop for a new love story - between a Shikara owner (Shashi Kapoor) and a rich tourist (Nanda) - in Suraj Prakash's 'Jab Jab Phool Khile'. Actor John Abraham, who has shot extensively in Kashmir, decoded why the filmmakers just can't get enough of the Valley. The 52-year-old recalled shooting 'Vedaa' there, and remembered how the place hosted both a sense of calm and 'uneasiness'. While speaking to India Today Digital, the popular action star narrated that Kashmir became a character in his film, and it does the same for so many other films because it can never be just a was a very important character in the film. If you've seen Veda, (you'd know) that's where he (the male lead has) lost his wife, which is why we shot there. It was very important to get the characters right in the film. Kashmir was not just a cinematic journey for us. It was a character and the backstory of our film," he who has worked with the biggest production houses in the country and has been acting for over two decades, said he experienced strangeness there. He recalled, "So I shot there for quite some time. I don't remember how many days, but we got a very, very long schedule there. In fact, when I shot there, I think there was a certain shot. I was shooting by a mosque and, I was wondering, and I mean it, it was a drone shot and everybody had moved out. The shot happened at 7 am when we got the right light. Let me tell you that I was a strange sense of calm there but also a strange sense of uneasiness." But, what about security? On April 22 this year, 26 innocent people, mostly tourists, were shot dead by terrorists while they were soaking up the beauty of Kashmir in the popular Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam - an incident that sent the entire nation into mourning. Even with all its unmatched beauty on the surface, Kashmir has carried deep wounds of Pakistan-backed terrorism within. History hasn't been able to heal the Valley. But, those who have shot there and lived there say its people continue to wake up and welcome new sunshine every day, irrespective of witnessing the most cloudy, gloomy and dark Siddharth P Malhotra, known for 'Hichki' and 'Maharaj', among others, shot his web series 'Kaafir' and a TV show called 'Pashmina' in the Valley. He recalled, "Kashmir is India's Switzerland, every frame is naturally stunning. But, what makes it magical isn't just the views; it's the people. During our shoot, I experienced first-hand how deeply hospitable and kind-hearted Kashmiris are."Kashmir's beauty lies in its people and the culture that they treasure so deeply. Malhotra explained, "If you are lost at 2 am, they'll take you home, offer you kahwa, lend their phones, rich or poor. That's their spirit. That's Kashmiriyat, warmth, dignity, and generosity.""Yes, filmmakers will always have security concerns, especially after recent incidents. But the legacy and heart of Kashmir is its people, its food, its culture that make it unforgettable. It changes you. And that's why cinema will keep returning to the valley," he beauty is one thing, but its truth is something else. The Valley's truth is that terrorism has attacked her, robbed her of her serenity, and has forced her to see more destruction than any other place in the country. And yet she reconstructed herself - again and again. For filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, it's important that cinema continues to show Kashmir's pain and wounds in their film 'The Kashmir Files' featured one of the most tragic events in history that happened in the Valley - the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits (1990). In an exclusive interview with India Today, Agnihotri said the Valley would be healed completely the day the world acknowledges its past injuries and understands the conflict that continues to tear it up into pieces. The 51-year-old referred to the West's unawareness of the issues of Kashmir and how cinema can become so much more by reading the language of Kashmir and learning from its history. "We need to make more films on Kashmir and use it as our soft power to fight the world. We need to convey our message like Hollywood, which made so many films on the Holocaust that nobody in the world dared to say a word against the Holocaust," he director added, "Now, in India, we keep questioning, debating around it, and that is the reason that in this conflict with Pakistan, suddenly, the American diplomats have raised the question of Kashmir because they don't know, they are not aware (of the real issues). I just came back from the US and I know they have absolutely no idea about this region. How does it work? The only way (to make the world more aware of Kashmir) is to show it with a lot of human touch, a lot of care, tenderness. Unless and until you feel that pain... And anybody who makes a film on Kashmir must go and speak to the victims of Kashmir."Understanding Kashmir is not a day's job. It's about learning and unlearning years of its silence, and looking at its silken green meadows turning heavy with pain. A few days ago, actor Suniel Shetty shared a post on social media in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, and said he would go back to Kashmir for his next family holiday. The same sentiments are echoed by the filmmakers we spoke to. Do we leave a family member to suffer in pain if they are going through a difficult time? Do we just leave them behind to deal with their problems on their own? Do we cut ties? No, because that's not the spirit of India. We value our relationships and our own more than ourselves. For us, Kashmir still is and will always be the cradle of mountains where heaven sleeps. And for as long as the Chinar blushes in the arms of the breeze, the cinema will continue to pay a wears her wounds like ancestral gold, and the filmmakers will make sure that we see the Valley standing, with snow in her hair. As Malhotra concluded beautifully, "We would go back in a heartbeat." IN THIS STORY#John Abraham#Anupam Kher
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra also have agendas; stars releasing their films on Eid have an agenda': Vivek Agnihotri
Director Vivek Agnihotri is busy making his trilogy 'on truth, on justice, and on life' with The Tashkent Files (2019), The Kashmir Files (2022), and the upcoming Delhi Files: The Bengal Chapter. He agrees that he makes 'agenda-driven' films, but unlike other filmmakers like Karan Johar, Vidhu Vinod Chopra and the late Yash Chopra, his agenda is that of making socio-political films. 'Does Karan Johar not make agenda-driven films? He says family is the biggest thing, is that not an agenda? Yash Chopra ji made films on 'love is everything,' is that not an agenda? I love Karan, he's a wonderful director and producer, I don't have any problem with him. But he's established himself in the world of fashion, everyone in his films is fashionable, that's his life's agenda,' said Agnihotri. In the podcast on the YouTube channel of Digital Commentary, Agnihotri argued that everyone has an agenda. 'When Vidhu Vinod Chopra ji made Shikara (2020), then he said, 'No, everyone should forget what happened to Kashmiri Pandits. They should hug it out and forgive each other.' That was his agenda. Tell me, who doesn't have an agenda?' He claimed that if a star (read: Salman Khan) releases his films only on Eid (case in point: Sikandar), that's also an agenda. Agnihotri added that if a star only sings and dances and makes poor films, that's their agenda. He also quoted the examples of cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli whose agenda is to excel in life and on the field, whereas some other cricketers just want to earn by playing in the Indian Premier League, make girlfriends, and get popular on social media. 'It's not like I just make films like these. I talk about this too. My speeches are like this too. Their agenda reflects in every aspect of the life of a person with integrity,' added Agnihotri. 'My parents were freedom fighters. I get how India got its independence. If I'm talking about India's social conscience, am I not making three films on right to truth, right to justice, and right to life? I'm not making any faltu, bakwas films,' added Agnihotri. He also steered clear of supporting the agenda of the ruling party through his films. 'What's the relation between The Tashkent Files and the ruling party of today? I'm not pro-BJP, they accuse me of being pro-Narendra Modi. In 2014, people asked me to sign a petition to not make Narendra Modi the prime minister. I said, why would I do it? Why would I stop someone before giving them a fair shot? I don't even say I won't watch a particular film. Foolish people do that,' said Agnihotri. Also Read — Anurag Kashyap was a drunkard who palmed off work to Vikram Motwane': Vivek Agnihotri says it became difficult to deal with filmmaker 'Dharmendra and Sunny Deol were in BJP. Why does no one tell them they're BJP guys? They tell me! I didn't contest elections. Do you think I wasn't offered to? Do you think if I want to go into politics, I won't be able to? But I don't want to go. I just want to make films on politics. If I enter politics, I'd have to speak the party line,' argued Agnihotri.
India Today
27-04-2025
- India Today
Tourists Flock to Kashmir Despite Recent Attack
Tourists are returning to Kashmir Valley despite recent terror concerns. Visitors from Kolkata and Bangalore express confidence in the region's safety, with many sticking to their travel plans including visits to Pahalgam. A tourist from Kolkata stated, "Kashmir is safe now, everything is open, tourists are safe, everyone is coming, so please do come if you have plans." The report highlights bustling activity at Dal Lake, with tourists enjoying Shikara rides and local hospitality.
Deccan Herald
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
April 26, 2025: Best photos from around the world
A tourist rides "Shikara" or boat in the waters of Dal Lake, following a suspected militant attack near south Kashmir's Pahalgam, in Srinagar April 25, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo Artist Scott LoBaido's protests outside the United States Court in Manhattan where Luigi Mangione was scheduled to be arraigned on a federal indictment on charges of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, in New York City, U.S., April 25, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo A girl carries a flag as Israeli Druze wait to greet Syrian Druze who cross the border from Syria into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, as they come to the annual gathering at the Nabi Shuayb Shrine, a holy place for the Druze community, at Majdal Shams, April 25, 2025. Credit: Reuters Photo Monks hold candles as they offer prayers for the victims of Pahalgam terror attack, at Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya, in Gaya district, Bihar. Credit: PTI Photo Illuminated Kerala Legislative Assembly premises ahead of the Assembly Day celebrations, in Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, April 25, 2025. People hold candles in tribute to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, at Freedom Park, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, April 25, 2025. Credit: PTI Photo
Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Indian Express
Pune tourists continue Kashmir expedition unfazed after narrowly missing Pahalgam attack
Amid the rush to leave Kashmir following the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, many tourists have defied fear and decided to stay back and continue their planned tour, which also includes several families from Pune. The presence of the Indian Armed Forces across Jammu and Kashmir, cooperation from local residents, and administrative efforts to maintain the law and order situation have helped tourist activities thrive again and tourists to feel protected. 'We arrived in Srinagar on April 21, and the Pahalgam visit was scheduled the next day. Fortunately, while enjoying a Shikara ride on Dal Lake, we got late and reached the Baisaran meadows at around 3 pm, when the terror attack had just happened. We saw people rushing and decided to leave the site while we were about to book the pony ride,' said Yashwant Ranaware, a resident of Aundh. Ranaware and his wife were accompanied by the Awasare family, who returned to Srinagar the next day when private vehicle movement was allowed. After the attack, security personnel from various forces such as the Indian Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and others were commissioned to carry out combing operations to track down the terrorists. While staying for two days in Srinagar, both families decided to let the situation get under control and then continue with the trip. 'We thought, why panic if the Armed Forces have launched their operations. And on Thursday, we headed to Gulmarg and enjoyed the Gondola ride and later went to Sonmarg. The same is the case with many other tourists as they have started enjoying again without fear,' added Ranaware. Satish Awasare, a resident a Pune, told The Indian Express that the decision to continue with the tourism activities was possible because of the safe environment created by the Indian Armed Forces, prompt action by the local administration to get life back to normal while maintaining law and order despite the Red Alert in Kashmir, and the courteous residents who had helped us with accomodation, food and other essentials. Currently, the situation is completely normal, and many tourists have been seen flocking to the tourist spots. 'I believe if we panic and avoid visiting Jammu and Kashmir, keeping in mind the threat, then we are losing the opportunity to enjoy the scenic locations, and this has a direct impact on the valley's economy, which is mostly dependent on tourism. After enjoying the remaining locations, we will be back in Pune next week,' added Awasare.
