Kolkata: Following decades of militancy that forced most local cinemas to close down, Kashmir is hosting its inaugural four-day international film festival. Among the featured works is ‘Nadharer Bhela’ — the sole Indian entry selected for the international competition of the first International Film Festival of Jammu Kashmir (Sept 7-10). For director Pradipta Bhattacharya and actor Amit Saha, presenting their film alongside a heavy security presence made for a distinct screening experience.Having previously screened at events like the International Film Festival Rotterdam, ‘Nadharer Bhela’ — starring Amit Saha, Ritwick Chakraborty, Priyanka Sarkar, Satakshi Nandy and Aparajita Ghosh Das — is no stranger to the festival circuit, but Srinagar offered a novel backdrop. “We landed on Sept 8. We have not had much of a scope to travel. Yet, the experience is nice. The only thing that we are not used to is the huge presence of military everywhere. That’s completely new for us… I suppose the military is present since so many delegates from outside have come down to the Valley.”Perhaps the heavy security presence served as a subtle, persistent reminder of how, just 16 months ago, the peace of the Valley was shattered by the terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. Despite that, Bhattacharya described the overall visit as “beautiful” and noted plans to revisit, mentioning he was told the military presence is lighter in areas like Gulmarg.For both Bhattacharya and Saha, this marked their first visit to the region. While the festival’s international competition aims to showcase “visionary feature films” as a “rigorous celebration of artistic daring, technical mastery, and stories that redefine what contemporary storytelling can achieve,” the ground reality reflected the initial setup of a debut event.Screenings took place at a local multiplex. “There are two temporary tent cinemas too for screening,” Bhattacharya added. Saha was equally charmed by his time in Kashmir. “Our driver in Kashmir too watched the film. After the screening, people became quiet. They stood up,” the actor shared, recounting a moment of silent reverence from the audience before adding that they also found time for a quiet shikara ride and some local shopping.The interactions with local residents left the strongest impression on the visiting filmmaker. “If the organisers can continue with the initiative, it will increase the interaction between locals and film people. They are extremely well-behaved people. Wherever we went, locals have been constantly asking about our experiences in Kashmir. They all want to know our views of being in the Valley. Needless to say, it has been beautiful. I will return to the Valley,” Bhattacharya said.
