After over three decades, the Valley is set to revive the cinema-hall culture and welcome its first multiplex next year
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 21, 2020)

For nearly 30 years, no cinema hall has screened a film in Kashmir. But now its capital, Srinagar, seems set for the 70mm experience again as a two-storey multiplex, the first of its kind in Kashmir, is likely to open its doors early next year. It will come up in a five-storey commercial complex in the Badami Bagh Cantonment area. That’s not all. The owner of Naaz Cinema, in Saraibal area, has reportedly got the nod to turn the single-screen theatre into a multiplex.

The film fraternity is, of course, ‘enthused’ by the news. “Being a storyteller and filmmaker, it’s great to know that Kashmiris will able to enjoy films on the big screen as they love Hindi cinema a lot,” says filmmaker Kabir Khan, who shot a major portion of his film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) in the Valley. “In fact, when I went back to Kashmir, locals told me they loved the film which they watched on their devices. If there is a cinema hall, they can watch films there,” he says.

When militancy reared its head in Kashmir around 1989-90, many cinema halls in the state such as Firdous, Shiraz, Khayam, Naaz, Neelam, Shah, Broadway, Regal and Palladium, which mostly screened Hindi films, had to be shut. In 1999, there was an attempt to reopen Regal, Neelam and Broadway. But after a terrorist attack during the first show at Regal, it was closed. Neelam and Broadway ran for a while under strict security, but were also forced to shut down due to security concerns and few patrons.

“I’ve seen how Hindi films used to be huge in Kashmir at one point. But it has been over three decades now that locals have seen a cinema hall, due to the unrest,” says filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who was born and brought up in Kashmir. “Remember, such things give hope and strength to people, besides the fact that it can be one of the most important tools to channelise their energies in a positive direction,” he says.

Even as Kashmiris turned to watching pirated content on their devices over the years, the theatres were either turned into makeshift camps for the security forces or converted into hospitals.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar, who shot his first film, Yahaan (2005) in Kashmir, too believes the situation will change once theatres reopen. “When we shooting in Kashmir, a theatre was functioning for a few days but then it also got shut. I’ve experienced local Kashmiris’ passion for Hindi films. At one point, we had even thought of doing a premiere [of Yahaan] in Kashmir but it didn’t happen,” he says.

Trade experts are guarded, though happy at the possibility of a new market opening up. “It’s too early to talk from the business point of view but at the end of the day, people want entertainment. Why should Kashmiris depend on pirated DVDs or OTT? They should also experience the magic of the big screen,” concludes trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

SHOOTING AT PICTURESQUE SITES IN THE VALLEY
Kashmir has always been a hot favourite with Hindi filmmakers, but they had to give it a miss in the early ‘90s due to political unrest and terrorism. But of late, Bollywood returned to the Valley for films such as Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012), Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), Highway (2014), Fitoor (2016) and Raazi and Aiyaary (both 2018) among others. “I remember the love and warmth Kashmiris had showed us. If I need to go back and shoot there, I’d love to,” says Bajrangi Bhaijaan maker Kabir Khan.