Hope spring will again come to Kashmir: Chopra
Bhaderwah girl Sadia in lead role
Nishikant Khajuria
MUMBAI, Jan 7: Asserting that his upcoming movie “Shikara” is the story of lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) who were forced to leave their homes in the Valley in the year 1990 and are refugees in their own country, Director Vidhu Vinod Chopra today hoped that spring will again come to Kashmir, rest of India and the world.
Quoting famous Kashmiri couplets, which means “snow will melt, winter of despair will be over and the spring will come”, the Director said, “I hope and pray that spring comes again to Kashmir, rest of India and the world. “It took me 11 years to complete this project, the day after an idea was floated,” he said, while speaking to the media at the trailer launch of “Shikara,” in Mumbai.
“In 1990, more than 4 lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave their homes in the Valley. They still shiver when they hear the word ‘Aazadi’. ‘Shikaara’ is the story of these people and also of mine who are refugees within their own country,” said Chopra, while dedicating the movie to his mother.
The movie describes the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus in early 90s from the Valley. On January 19, it will be three decades of exile. “I am really happy with the making of “Shikara” and I want the nation to watch this film. I am sure India will watch it, especially those four lakh migrated Kashmiri Pandits and they will see change in their lives,” he added.
The filmmaker said that “Shikara” has been largely shot in Kashmir. “It is the story of resilience in the face of insurmountable odds. It is also the story of a love that remains unextinguished through 30 years of exile,” he asserted.
Chopra said that whenever some movie is made as previously it was like “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” or “3 Idiots”, it left some impact and this movie will surely change many lives. “I wish the community, to which I have a close connection, their life may change and get better,” he said.
The filmmaker said that he wanted to introduce new faces instead of big names because the movie would have turned fake with renowned and famous characters. Actors Adil Khan and Sadia, a girl from Bhaderwah area of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, have been introduced in the movie. “The innocence required was possible only with new faces,” he maintained and added that he has nothing commercial into the movie because it was dedicated to his mother.
He also appreciated the entire crew for working hard day and night, in achieving the mission. “My entire crew has new faces and they have done a marvellous job in making my dream come true,” he added. He also said that there were some unforgettable moments during shooting of the movie which touched his heart and made the film more special to him.
The filmmaker also had words of appreciation for the Kashmiri Pandits, who had contributed their roles and moments in the movie. He said the year 1990 saw the biggest “forced migration” from Kashmir, whereby more than four lakh Kashmiri Hindus had to flee the Valley. Even after almost three decades, most of them are still unable to return to their homeland.
A timeless love story in the worst of times and “a love letter from Kashmir”, reveals the poster. “Shikara” has been directed, edited and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra in association with Fox Star Studios. The movie will hit the silver screens on February 7.
The trailer starts with a scene showing a young couple, Shanti Dhar and Shiv Kumar Dhar, sitting inside their home when they saw a house burning from their window. It is then showed how Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave the Valley. The newcomers look promising in the trailer which shows the condition of the community members when they became refugees in their own country.
Recently, the makers of the film released a motion poster of the film and wrote, “Tees saal baad, humari kahani kahi jayegi… Here is a timeless love story in the worst of times.”
Interestingly, Shikara comes five months after the abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. Now, the State has been bifurcated into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
