Kashmir has a date with cinema
SHUJAAT BUKHARI
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The first digital film in Kashmiri was premiered in Srinagar the other day.
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MAKING HISTORY Scenes from Aarshad Mushtaq's film "Akh Daleel Loolech" which was screened in Srinagar recently.
`Akh Daleel Loolech' (A Love Story) is a digital feature film in Kashmiri with many firsts to its credit. It is the first Kashmiri film in 39 years. Made by a debutant filmmaker, it is the first digital film in the language. Since the 1990 violence, it is the first film to be watched fearlessly by Kashmiris in a theatre, after the cinemas were banned by Islamic militant outfits. Last weekend, Kashmir witnessed the revival of cinema for 100 minutes, as the film premiered at a jam-packed Tagore Hall. The Kashmiris attached themselves with director Aarshad Mushtaq's attempt, and of course with active participation of Tariq Javaid, a household name for Kashmir's TV audience.
Notwithstanding the re-opening of two theatres in Kashmir in 1997, the show was not watched under the shadow of gun. One of those theatres was again closed and another has little business as it is guarded round the clock by paramilitary forces. In Kashmir, watching films is seen as an act to promote obscenity, and militant organisations banned the screening of films in early 1990. The right wing women's organisation Dukhtaran-e-Millat spearheaded that movement.
Overwhelming response
But the overwhelming response to Mushtaq's film with a standing ovation by an audience of over 500 people, certainly heralds a new beginning in a place battered by violence, unrest, bloodshed, disorder and extreme conservative atmosphere on this front. The makers of the film themselves had apprehensions whether it would be a success.
"The first producer backed out immediately and I landed in trouble," says Aarshad, who made a mark last year by presenting a play "Su Yee" an English version of "Waiting for the Godot". "But it was Tariq Javed who rescued me."
Tariq Javed's R.R. Productions and Cine Vivid are co-producers with Aarshad's Xmita. For Kashmiris it was something new, as they had never thought of revisiting themselves on the screen. "Who would have thought of watching a film in our own language," said Sulaiman, a student. Kashmir's only Professor Emeritus, Rehman Rahi, himself a distinguished poet-writer, said, "It is a very significant event in the renaissance of Kashmiri language and culture."
The 100-minute feature film centres around the love story of a poor village boy and a rich girl in the 19th Century when Kashmir was an independent state ruled by a Hindu king. But most of the jagirdaars (feudal lords) were Muslims in that period. The story weaves into its main plot, which is the story of a boy and a girl trying to cut across the class distinction and follow their dreams, the story of an agricultural village and its habitants battling hard realities for survival.
Though not without shortcomings, the film is being hailed as a powerful attempt to preserve Kashmiri nationalism and boost the culture and history of a people who feel alienated from the rest of India. What is important about the film is that no sets have been created and the plots are real. The makers have accomplished the uphill task of finding the relevant places with a background dating back to the pre-1947 era when Dogra Maharajas used to rule the state.
Tariq Javaid who dons the role of a feudal lord, has added credence to the film. Selection of houses akin to one the feudal lords used to have adds to the beauty of the film. The music of the film is also based on Kashmir's classy poetry of legends like Mehmood Gami and Maqbool Shah Kralwari. With 68 actors, the performers have been drawn from small theatre groups. Madeeha, who plays the lead role as heroine of Mir Sarver, said, "This is the greatest day of my life. I had never imagined to be the heroine of the first digital film in Kashmiri."
The film portrays the political struggle of the Kashmiris who finally began their journey out of the clutches of the dictatorial regime of the Dogras in 1931, with Kashmir's towering politician Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah leading them. It is a different matter that Kashmir continues to bleed for a political settlement.
Scenic Kashmir has been a popular destination for Indian film shoots but has hardly been explored by local filmmakers to the benefit of the local Kashmiri audience. "Habba Khatoon", the true story of a famous 14th Century Kashmiri poetess queen, was released 39 years ago.
`A humble effort'
Tariq Javaid, who has had a chequered career as a TV actor, producer and director, says that making a film of this substance is a distant dream, and nothing substantial had been done by authorities to encourage Kashmiri cinema, which has so far produced only half a dozen features. "We have made a humble effort in this direction and we hope it will go a long way in paving the way for the beginning of cinema in Kashmir." Delhi-based Kashmiri filmmaker Fayaz Dilbar appreciates the difficulties the filmmakers might have faced, but says, "Even before the (militant) trouble began, it was difficult to produce a Kashmiri feature film because of the lack of finances, infrastructure and lack of encouragement by the authorities.The local industry is completely overshadowed by Bollywood."
Rafeeq Masoodi, Secretary, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, which sponsored the premier, says "Akh Daleel Loolech" has laid the foundation for Kashmir's journey into the celluloid world. The film, which will be available in DVD, VCD, ACD and music tapes has a strong script by Riyaz Masoom and Mir Maqbool and befitting music by Raja Bilal.
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