Kashmir born Bollywood Director on a mission

He has lived in valley and makes films with a mission. JK born Bollywood director, Rahat Kazmi has been making films on Kashmir to change the negative perception of people towards this conflict torn region.
Having made his first feature film ‘Identity card- guilty unless proven innocent’ which featured the era of 90s when people were subjected to various kinds of harassment, Rahat has chosen Kashmir as a prime subject for his another film-Side A Side B which is under pre-production stage.
Disclosing details of his upcoming project, Rahat  a Surankote-Poonch based film maker said that his another film is also a Kashmir theme based movie which will feature Bollywood’s leading actor Naseer-ud-Din Shah.
“I am presently on a Recci here and we were searching for some good locations here. Very soon we will start filming here and fortunately Bollywood leading actor Naseer-ud-Din Shah has given his nod to work in that film,” he said.
His film ‘Rabby’ is also shot in Kashmir which he says is intended to clear the myths regarding Muslims.
Rahat says that through films he is projecting sufferings of Kashmiris to the world.
“I have been living here and I know what agony we have gone through during 90’s. My first film ‘Identity Card-Guilty unless proven’ innocent depicted how we here were not allowed to move freely even in our areas without having an identity card. It showed the importance of having identity card at that time. Similarly being an inhabitant of this state I will be making films on Kashmir to change the perception of people towards it and aware them,” he said.
Rahat believes that the people in Kashmir were as progressive as in other regions. He says that the Bollywood has projected the bleak side of Kashmir through films while neglecting its beautiful side. “If we see most of the films shot in Kashmir, the theme is either militancy or something related to bloodshed. Kashmir is the beautiful place on earth and there can be beautiful subjects for the filmmakers to work upon. I am making films here to contribute a little bit to change the negative image which has been portrayed over the years by the films or any other kind of media,” he said.
Rahat says that ‘Identity Card’ has been one of the most important film regarding Kashmir adding it has brought another side of Kashmir to the world.
“Identity card was mentioned as one of the bravest film ever made in Indian cinema by the Telegraph. It was screened in Canada, Germany, United states and earned best director award in San Francisco Global Movie Festival besides fetching best film and best supporting actor. In India we have also received many awards,” he said.
Rahat however said that his film Identity card’s screening was not allowed in Kashmir. “The film was supposed to be screened in Kashmir University but due to unknown reason its screening was not allowed,” he said.
Regarding the revival of Bollywood in Kashmir, Rahat said that the government should include tax rebate system to ensure maximum directors get lured to shoot here.
“In UP or any other state there the government pays certain amount back to the director from the tax leveled. Even UK returns 40 percent of the tax back to the filmmaker. Further a film Division should be here where from creative work like animation and dubbing could be don which will ultimately employ valley educated youth”, he said.
As a debutante director, Kazmi has earlier directed “Dekh Bhai Dekh”, “Impatient Vivek” and “Love Kiya Aur Lag Gayi “(under production).