 | ||
Kashmiri cinema is the Kashmiri language-based film industry in the Kashmir Valley of India. The first Kashmiri feature film, Mainz Raat, was released in 1964. Kashmir is a shooting destination for Bollywood films, and Kashmiri actors are well-known in Bollywood.
Contents
1960s to 1980s
The first Kashmiri feature film, (Mainz Raat, directed by Jagjiram Pal) was released in 1964. In 1972 Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor, a biography of Kashmiri poet Mahjoor, was released. Made in Urdu and Kashmiri, the film was a joint venture of the Department of Information of Jammu and Kashmir and Indian filmmaker Prabhat Mukherjee. Babaji (directed by Jyoti Sarup) followed 39 years, but it was not screened in Kashmir. An 1989 film, Inqalaab, was not released due to the turbulent political situation at the time. Because of the 1989 insurgency, film production in Kashmir was halted and an unofficial screening ban imposed on Bollywood films.
21st century
Akh Daleel Loolech (Love Story), the first Kashmiri digital feature film, premiered in India in 2006. Directed by Aarshad Mushtaq, the historical drama explored the Kashmiri people's social and political struggles during the 19th century. In 2012, Kashmir’s first 35mm feature film Partav was released. This movie, Valley of Saints, a romantic drama set near Dal Lake in Srinagar and directed by Musa Syeed, addressed environmental issues surrounding the lake. Kashmir Daily, filmed in Hindi and Kashmiri and produced and directed by Hussein Khan, was scheduled for release in spring 2016.
Television
Three television films have been produced in Kashmir: Rasool Mir (1974–75), directed by Bashir Badgami; Habba Khatoon (1977-1978), directed by Bashir Badgami and Arnimaal (1982–83), directed by Siraj Qureshi.
Documentaries
The first Kashmiri film shown at the Cannes Film Festival was Ezra Mir's 1952 documentary, Pamposh (Lotus). Inshallah, Kashmir is a 2012 documentary directed, produced and written by Ashvin Kumar. Other notable documentaries are Papa 2 (2000) and Ocean of Tears (2012).
Cinema closures
Cinemas in Kashmir, including seven in Srinagar, were closed due to the 1989 insurgency. In 1996, due to efforts by the National Conference government, the Broadway, Regal and Neelam Cinemas showed Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Kareeb. After further attacks, as of 2015 Kashmir cinemas are closed and DVD film piracy is flourishing.
Revival efforts
Obstacles to reviving the Kashmiri film industry are the lack of financial and government support. However, in 2014 Kashmiri filmmaker Ali Emran decided to shoot a film in Kashmir based on The Fountainhead. Identity Card- Ek Lifeline (2014) by Kashmiri filmmaker Rahat Kazmi received three awards at the American International Film Festival. In November 2014, the film was released worldwide. According to the Prime Minister of India, reviving the Kashmiri film industry would provide jobs for Kashmiri youth. In May 2015, Salman Khan said during the filming of Bajrangi Bhaijaan that Kashmiri cinemas should be re-opened. Imtiaz Ali praised the state government for encouraging filmmakers in the valley after Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed visited Mumbai to meet with Bollywood industry figures.