This is in response to the recently published piece in your newspaper titled Enhancing Stereotype - a review on JAB TAK HAI JAAN. Basically we should realize that Bollywood is purely a commercial industry made to make monetary benefits. If we see the movies which were made here in mid nineties they  did more damage in projecting the image of Kashmir adding to the hardships of the tourism department  and other  agencies  working hard for the revival of tourism industry. Given the impact of Bollywood on the psyche of domestic  tourists  in the country  these movies  created  a horrible image of Kashmir  and obviously scared away the potential   visitors. We admit that bollywood has promoted Kashmirs natural beauty and unparalleled hospitality  in most of pre 89 movies which were shot here  but the then film makers  had indeed an  aesthetic eye for the  natural beauty  and  simple life of Kashmir and Kashmiris  which was projected and played well on silver screen. Yash Chopra  was one of the first names who made his romantic movies and used the natural ambience well to make a mark  at national and international level, but it is unfortunate that JAB TAK HAI JAAN  again projects  Kashmir as the death trap and its beautiful landscapes as host to bombs and mines.  Of course  we have seen a bad phase and have passed through it but  it doesn’t make any cinematic sense  to project it on screen when it is not needed at all. When Kashmir is abuzz with record breaking tourist activity, international conferences, award  functions by big brands like TV 18 CNBC; when two countries like Germany and UK have already lifted the advisories, it is advisable for the Bollywood to  change their mind on Kashmir also so that  Kashmir can be projected again as the shooting locale for the romantic, happy, healthy entertaining movies  and people all around the country, and the world, will know it and visit for its mesmerizing beauty and unparalleled hospitality. Something that never die, JAB TAK HAI JAAN!  I think we should have a film facilitation board  which should see the script of each movie  before it is allowed to be shot here so that Kashmir and Bollywood  relationship is revived for the good  of Kashmir and Kashmiris.

Author is a research officer working at SKICC  and can be mailed at  shahnawaz_786@yahoo.com

Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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