They say if there is heaven on earth, it is in Kashmir. But do you really think this is the case? Do you really think that the Kashmiris are living the life of lavish and heaven? If your answer is yes then you are living far away from reality. The reality of heaven on earth was most recently portrayed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri in his movie ‘ The Kashmir Files’ and this was not the first time when any filmmakers tried their hand on the mission of portraying the reality of Kashmir. Today, here we bring you a list of the top 10 movies revolving around the issues of Kashmir:
1. The Kashmir Files: Finding a movie like 'The Kashmir Files' in the mainstream is like finding a diamond in coal storage. Being brutally honest about the ugly face of the religious extremism in Kashmir, the movie portrays how Kashmiri Pandits were threatened, killed and forced to leave the valley by the terrorists. Many movies have been made on Kashmir insurgency, but this is the first movie that talks about the tragedy that made Kashmiri pandits refugees in their own country. The base storyline of the movie was taken from the news article and interviews taken back in time. Helmed by Vivek Agnihotri, the movie casts Mithun Chakraborty, Anupam Kher, and Darshan Kumar in lead.
2. Roja: One of the cult classics and gem produced by Mani Ratnam, Roja never fails to give you a spine-chilling experience. The movie revolves around the life of a projectionist who is in the search of her husband who was kidnapped by the Kashmiri militant during a mission he was executing.
3. Shikara: Inspired by the Rahul Pandita, Our Moon Has Blood Clots, Shikara is the story of a Kashmiri Pandit couple, who were forced to leave their hometown during the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. More than the sensitive topic, the movie garnered applause for the breath-taking cinematic shots and production design.
4. Haider: Adapted from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Basharat Peer’s Curfewed Night, Haider is yet one of the most realistic takes of the mainstream media on Kashmir. The story of Haider, who returns to his town and gets devastated by the disappearance of his father, witness the jaw-dropping acting performance of Kay Kay Menon, Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, and Irrfan Khan.
5. Laila Majnu: Taking inspiration from the classic love story of Laila and Majnu, the movie is set in today’s time where the couple has to face more relevant problems to the youth. While dealing with their feuding families a passionate love story unravels. Starring Avinash Tiwary and Tripti Dimri, it is presented by Imtiaz Ali and co-produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Preety Ali.
6. Hamid: Set against the backdrop of the Kashmir conflict, the Aijaz Khan directorial is an adaptation of Amin Bhat’s play Phone No. 786. The film is a poignant tale told through the perspective of a child, who, upon losing his father, is determined to negotiate with Allah and bring him back.
7. Harud: Without going back in history, the movie talks about the effect of insurgency on the lives of innocent and unaware participants. Using metaphorical and abstract overtones, director Aamir Bashir’s Harud is a delicately woven tale.
8. Yahaan: A love story set in strife-torn Kashmir, Yahaan marked Shoojit Sircar’s directorial debut. A conventional story told unconventionally, the film unfolds with the aim of displaying the real as it is, without any exaggerated hatred.
9. Inshallah Football: Inshallah Football is based on the live of an aspiring footballer from the valley. His passport gets denied by the government of India just because of the fact that he is the son of an ex-militant. Directed by Ashvin Kumar, the film is a humane attempt at portraying the struggles of a child who finds hope in a sport.
10. Shaurya: Shaurya is an adaptation of the Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson starred, A Few Good Men. But where the film Indianises itself is by spatializing the premise in the heartlands of Kashmir. Although less of the battle happens outside in the valley, and more in the courtroom, the film is contextually rooted in Kashmir.
