Celluloid was not the only causality of conflict. The local art, traditions, culture, folk music was all that vanished. People associated with such professions went on streets for survival. Big Screen
There is a bid for the revival of reel life in Kashmir. The efforts are afoot to see cinemas again thrown open for the general public which otherwise stand closed for long four decades. The cinemas in Kashmir winded up its operations in early 1990’s after insurgency took over. Almost all the cinema halls were taken over by the security forces in the valley and majority of them remain so on till this day. In the past efforts were being made to restore the cinema culture in valley after militancy witnessed low and normalcy gradually returned to the streets.
The plans, however, fell flat owing to some attacks launched by militants on cinema halls. In 1999 when the three top cinema halls in Kashmir were thrown open for public, militants attacked at Broadway Cinema and killed moviegoer besides injured 12 others. Common people who had all the love for the reel life in Kashmir got scared and stayed away fearing attack at cinema halls by militants. As religiosity was infused into the otherwise political battle in Kashmir against Union of India, the insurgents deemed the operation of cinema halls in valley ‘unislamic’. So the big screen was the first fatality of Kashmir conflict.
As the things on all fronts have changed in Kashmir now after Narender Modi government took over in New Delhi and especially after August 5, one of its endeavours is to restore Kashmir in its old form. Restoring big screen across the nook and cranny of valley is one of its agendas. There are hundreds of families who have been attached with the entrainment industry in Kashmir. Like in any other city or town of world, Kashmir too was abuzz with the release of new films. Bollywood has a history of romance with Kashmir. Dozens of movies have been shot in the serene, lush green mountains of valley until 1990’s. Though the bollywood later stayed away but Kashmirs continued to have its love for movies. Celluloid was not the only causality of conflict. The local art, traditions, culture, folk music was all that vanished. People associated with such professions went on streets for survival.
During an era of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in 1960’s Kashmir had a Tagore hall built where the artists would perform cultural events. That auditorium until recent past was also shut due to prevailing uncertainty in valley and its major part under occupation of CRPF.
As it was thrown open and was attracting regular cultural events, the recent decision of government to convert it into the movie theatre caused anxiety among people associated with art and culture in Kashmir. Their concerns seem genuine in nature and need a full support from government. The fraternity has suffered more than anyone else. Partial restoration of Tagore hall was a hope in despair for them.
Over the past several years, this was the only place attracting people from different walks of life to enjoy film screening, theatrics performances, and other cultural events. Now its conversion to cinema hall may again despair the hopes of the community associated with art and culture. Instead government may reconsider its proposal and set up new or restore the existing abandoned cinema halls for the purposes. More than Cinemas Kashmir requires safeguarding its own cultures and traditions. If there is sincerity in the efforts of government, it shall rather equally put the pain in promoting local art and culture besides reviving big screens.
