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| Bollywood –Kashmir bond still alive | | Filmmakers crave for ‘conducive atmosphere’ | | KUNAL SHRIVATSA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 15: The vale of Kashmir which has been wooing Bollywood filmmakers for decades is still a much sought after destination for them, no matter the turmoil continuing for years is a major hurdle. Notwithstanding the disturbed conditions, renowned filmmakers are craving to shoot their celluloid projects amid beautiful, picturesque locales of Kashmir.
The craving to shoot a film in the midst of pleasing sites in Valley was confided by none other than Mukesh Bhat, Mumbai film industry’s one of the leading producers and David Dhawan, Bollywood’s ‘entertainer number one’ director here today.
Mukesh and David are in town to enact as judges in the final of All India Devotional Song competition which is to be held on October 16. This event is a regular feature for the last thirteen years as a part of Navratra Festival at Katra. Both the filmmakers expressed this desire to shoot films in Kashmir while speaking to mediapersons.
there is no denying the fact that Kashmir was once a favourite destination for majority of the Bollywood filmmakers to shoot their celluloid projects but ever since the rise of armed insurgency in Kashmir in 1989, Bollywood’s Kashmir connection has almost, got disengaged.
Barring few movies’ shooting over the last twenty years, the Indian cinema’s preferred location has taken over by foreign locales.
But, it was not a deliberate attempt on part of the filmmakers to skip Kashmir for shooting their movies as circumstances prevailing here for the past two decades virtually left them with no other option but to avoid coming here and look out for other places.
Most of the Bollywood producers and directors still have a hope and desire deep down their heart to shoot a movie amidst the picturesque locations of Jammu and Kashmir in general and valley in particular, where hundreds of Hindi as well as other regional language movies were shot extensively in the past.
Addressing media persons, Mukesh Bhat said, “It is quite painful that we have to go abroad for shooting our films when we have a place like Kashmir in our own backyard.”
Replying to a question on the possibility of film producers going to Kashmir for shooting after a recent Sanjay Dutt starrer ‘Lamha’ movie was extensively shot there, Mukesh said, “I and other Bollywood producers have fond memories of Kashmir… Its just unforgettable.”
“The turmoil in valley forced us to opt for other options but our hopes of going to Kashmir one day have not diminished as yet…. We are hopeful that Kashmir would be back to normalcy which could pave way for the return of those glorious years when Hindi cinema had a special relation with the valley.”
When asked that should state government make concerted efforts to revive Kashmir’s Bollywood bond, he said that it not only the responsibility of the state government to put in sincere efforts but the central government should also ponder over the issue.
Highlighting the importance of cinema as one of the best mediums for promoting tourism, Mukesh said foreign countries invite us for shooting for the growth of their tourism sector.
“It is a tragedy that when we have a place like Kashmir, which is considered to be a paradise on earth, but still we are unable to exploit its full potential.” Bhat said
Most filmmakers are longing to show Kashmir as the perennial land of beauty. For them Kashmir is about Dal Lake, the Mughal gardens, scenic locales, mountains, springs and beautiful damsels. They want to resume Bollywood’s Kashmir connection and David is one amongst them.
“I think Kashmir is one of the best locations India has…. Several films in the past have been shot here…. I would prefer using this place for my films.” Dhawan said
“Why should we go abroad… I think its useless.” he added
With some of the Bollywood filmmakers communicated their preferences and their wish to be among the breathtaking beauty of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonmarg beside other locales.
With upgradation of Srinagar airport as an international airport, Kashmir valley for sure has every potential to be a dream destination once again for Bollywood film makers provided a lasting peace restores back in Kashmir.
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