Srinagar, Sept 11: Actor and filmmaker Mir Sarwar has described the Best Film award won by Kashmiri-language film Tasrufdar at the first International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) as a proud moment for the entire artist and film fraternity of the region.
Tasrufdar, directed by Kapil Mattoo, won the Best Film award in the J&K category at the festival on Thursday.
Sarwar, who is among the film’s producers under his banner Safdar Arts and also plays one of its lead roles, said the project was the result of the collective efforts of artists and technicians from Kashmir.
“It is a proud moment for the entire artist and film fraternity of J&K,” Sarwar said, adding that the award was also a personal victory for him as a producer and actor.
Recalling how the project took shape, the actor said he and Mattoo had initially discussed making a different story in Kashmir. “Later, Kapil told me that another story was in his mind and wanted to check my availability,” he said.
According to Sarwar, the shooting schedule had to be changed three to four times before he finally managed to arrange dates shortly after Eid-ul-Adha in June 2025.
“Getting dates from the other actors, especially the female artists, was also a challenge. Thankfully, everything fell into place and we managed to get their dates,” he said.
Sarwar described the making of the film as having “some divine intervention”, recalling that Mattoo had written the draft in one go.
“He told me he could not believe that he had written those dialogues in Kashmiri. He put his heart and soul into this film,” Sarwar said.
He also credited RJ Umer Nisar for playing a pivotal role in making the project possible. Nisar handled multiple responsibilities, including assistant direction, data management and other creative work.
Sarwar said the team also faced challenges during the shoot, including a scheduling conflict involving Director of Photography Syed Ali, whose family wedding coincided with the shooting dates.
“It was very difficult for him to manage it somehow, but he did. His work is now being appreciated by everyone,” he said.
“Each and every member of the film put more than 100 per cent into its making,” Sarwar added.
He said the team also sought blessings at several pious places in Kashmir before the shoot, hoping that everything would proceed smoothly.
“By the grace of the Almighty, everything went well,” he said.
Speaking about the performances, Sarwar particularly praised Ashwath Bhatt, who plays the titular character of Tasrufdar. “It is a treat to watch him in every frame. He became the character throughout the entire period of the film,” Sarwar said.
He also highlighted Lone Bashir’s portrayal of Bashir, Tasrufdar’s childhood friend. Sarwar said the conversation between the two characters in the climax represents the beginning of a dialogue between two communities that, according to the film, took place in private spaces but rarely in the public domain.
The film also features Shafia Maqbool, whom Sarwar described as “one of the finest actresses of J&K”, along with Arooba Javed, who also worked as an assistant director.
Mukhtar Lone handled the sound department, while Soliha Bhat was responsible for makeup.
Sarwar said the film’s biggest strength was its roots. “It is a film made in Kashmir, by Kashmiris, in the Kashmiri language,” he said.
The film’s lyrics were written by Peer Zahoor. Sarwar said Zahoor wrote the song after watching the film and, inspired by its theme of namkeen chai, penned the lyrics within 15 minutes. “After another 10 minutes, Rasik Imtiyaz composed it, with Fauzaan Moosavi assisting in the musical arrangement,” he said.
Mir Momin handled the line production of the film.
