It was around 1960s that the fabulous film industry known as Bollywood explored Kashmir as the most attractive destination where films with romantic and naturalist themes should be shot. To their great surprise, the doyens of film industry at that time found enormous response from the audience and viewers to the charming scenes of Kashmir’s bountiful nature reflected through the lenses. Thereafter, Kashmir’s bewitching beauty, her lush green pastures, gardens, and snow clad peaks and roaring waters hurtling down the stony bed all became natural setting for most of the films that made stunt at the box office. Kashmir became home to many artists of repute who were closely associated with film industry and many outstanding personalities of the film world became household names with many Kashmiri youth who had eye for beauty and artistry.
With Kashmir becoming the shooting destination of Bollywood stars, to.urism received a boost. Those who were impressed by the scenic beautoty of Kashmir found a lurking desire to make a trip to Kashmir and enjoy what the grandeur of nature offered. Unfortunately, then surfaced the externally sponsored armed insurgency in Kashmir. Foreign operatives armed and trained to create unrest in Kashmir came through the mountain passes. With that visits to reputed excursion spots in the foothills of Kashmir or in lush green pastures became risky. No film maker would endanger the precious lives of artists and actors and therefore for next two decades of insurgency, Kashmir no more remained the destination for Bollywood artists and film makers. They headed towards European countries especially towards Switzerland whose natural setting is almost akin to that of Kashmir. In the process, Kashmir lost its tag of Bollywood destination. Kashmir tourism received big setback.
Department of Tourism is in the charge of the Chief Minister. In a bid to boost tourism and supplement tourist economy in the State, the Chief Minister threw a dinner party to the Bollywood doyens with the specific purpose of rekindling their interest in making Kashmir the destination for shooting films. This is a right move and worth trying. Many known personalities of the Indian film industry were the guest to grace the occasion in Mumbai. Most of the guests are familiar with Kashmir, and they have expressed their desire to resume shooting in the lovely gardens, lakesides, hillocks and mountain declensions of Kashmir. The Chief Minister made a passionate appeal to the lens men and artists to give the entire nation a feel of nature’s bounty to Kashmir and to be partners in appreciating it. We think the Chief Minister has done a right thing that will certainly go in improving the tourism sector in Kashmir. Of course, resumption of film shooting in Kashmir will be much liked by the producers. But this has the pre-requisite of safety and security. Today militancy in Kashmir has been controlled to a large extent in comparison to what was obtaining during 1990s. Infiltration, too, has been curbed to a large extent, thanks to the agile security forces on the LoC. However, we should not forget that sporadic incidents of terrorism still take place here or there. The tactics of terrorists is to kidnap an important personality and then bargain over his release and extort as much as is possible from the family member of the kidnapped person. The State government shall have to make foolproof arrangements that such a sordid thing will never happen and will never be allowed to happen.
Apart from the preliminary responsibility of providing security cover to the artists and their entourage when they decide to shoot a film in Kashmir, the State Government should also provide more facilities and logistical support for expansion of film shooting in Kashmir. Hundreds of local get associated with the shooting of a film. They will need service conditions, insurance cover, mobility, investment support and many other things. The Department of Tourism should have a defined agreement with local staff as guides, helpers, service providers etc. so that they gradually become experts in their respective fields. Once film industry decides to revive the shooting of films in Kashmir, State Tourism Department will also come into motion. We know that the present Government wants that tourist’s spots in Jammu region should also be explored and developed. Thus, Jammu region will also benefit from tourism industry
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