Kashmir Archives

Raazi: A Deshbhakti Film that Shows the Ugly Side of Patriotism

For a film that has clouds of nationalism overpowering every frame, the implication that patriotism is a choice – one that the protagonists are not even offered – is a brave one to make. Yet it seamlessly fits in. For Meghna Gulzar has ensured Raazi isn’t a patriotic film. Instead, it’s a film about the aftermath of patriotism.

Poulomi Das July 26, 2016

First Person

No First Day, No Show: What It’s Like to Grow Up Without A Movie Theatre in Kashmir

Back in the day, Kashmir was breathtaking – the Dal Lake still had clean water, the entire valley didn’t smell of blood. And it had a cinema. Today, the valley doesn’t have a single working theatre. Nobody in Kashmir who is under 30 years old has had the privilege of watching a film in the theatre on the very day of its release.

Qurat ul July 24, 2016

POV

Dear Indians, Our WhatsApp Hysteria is Not Going to Resolve the India-Pakistan Tensions

Since India-Pakistan tensions have escalated every civilian has turned into a defence expert. WhatsApp and social media have turned war into a dinner-table conversation, where we now plan how to “finish Pakistan” and “kill Masood Azhar like the US killed Osama”.

Hardik Rajgor July 23, 2016

POV

Pulwama Attack: When Did Peace Become Such a Loaded, Dirty Word?

In the wake of the Pulwama attack, the distinction between sympathising with terrorists and hoping that peace will prevail has become increasingly blurry for those infected with a taste for vengeful retribution. At this point, someone could advocate a nuclear war and they’d receive a warmer reception than a person calling for peace.

Arré Bench July 12, 2016

Pop Culture

“Kaagaz Nahi Dikhayenge”: From Streets to the Spoken Fest, Protest Poetry is Everywhere

In the age of CAA, words are the weapons on the tongues of wounded artistes. I witnessed the power of poetry first-hand at Mumbai’s Spoken Fest, where Varun Grover reiterated, “Kaagaz Nahi Dikhayenge” and Faye D’Souza asked, “Is the government reading the Constitution?”

Anand Holla July 11, 2016

People

The (Possibly) Short and Tortured Life of Irshad

Irshad was chatting with Yakoob, when his friend was shot in the abdomen, and killed. The story of a child from the Valley who became a person of interest.

dilnaz boga July 10, 2016

People

The Silent Cinemas of Srinagar

The abuse faced by Dangal actor Zaira Wasim is a reminder of Kashmir's struggle with freedom of expression. This struggle reflects in its silent cinemas, shuttered since 1989.

Faisul Yaseen July 10, 2016

Bollywood

Hamid: The Movie on Kashmir We Need

Hamid is a gentle tale of a Kashmiri child’s yearning for his missing father. It is essentially a story of violence – you don’t see it but experience it in full force. Hamid focuses on a particularly gruesome brand of emotional violence that marks the stories of Kashmir’s “disappeared” men.

Sharan Saikumar July 9, 2016

Pop Culture

Do Pakistan War Films Ask, “How’s the Josh?”

Bollywood is so hyped about war that even in the aftermath of the Balakot attack, producers were queuing up to register film titles. But what is the status on the other side of the border? Are war films as much of a sub-genre in Lollywood as it is in Bollywood?

Hriday Ranjan July 8, 2016

Pop Culture

Trevor Noah and the Lazy Art of Mistimed Racial Stereotypes

Reducing India to outdated jokes about Bollywood dancing and funny accents is what American pop culture does best. Even as we see marginally better representations thanks to stars like Mindy Kaling, it’s still rare to see desis outside the context of “funny”. Trevor Noah is no different.

Kahini Iyer July 7, 2016