The Kashmir conflict has been depicted in film many a time but not nearly enough

For decades, the topic of Kashmir has been mired in controversy, invoking very powerful emotions from people on both sides of the border. With films considered a powerful medium to educate and empower the people, the freedom movement in Indian-Occupied Kashmir managed to find its way onto the silver screen several times in Pakistan. Films portraying the pain, struggle and suffering of Kashmiris have been made, yet many of them, just like the movement itself, have been met with resistance.

Not many people are aware that the first-ever movie released in Pakistan was made on the struggle of Kashmiris. Though Teri Yaad is considered the first feature film to be released in the newly created state, it was Rafiq Chaman’s Kashmir Hamara Hai which can be credited as Lollywood’s debut. Released on August 14, 1948, the 50-minute film had all the ingredients of a feature film.

The first Indo-Pak war was being fought over Kashmir and people were anxious to see the gallant efforts of their army. It was during the film’s production that Captain Sarwar Shaheed (the first Nishan-e-Haider award recipient) was martyred on July 27 in the Uri sector. With the screening of Kashmir Hamara Hai, they had the chance to watch the fight they had been reading about in the papers.

Politically motivated film Inquilab-e-Kashmir was also released later that year, but the end was unable to cut through red tape. It was the brainchild of actor Naeem Hashmi who took the cast and production crew to the warfront. The film was pulled from theatres after only one show at Lahore’s Ritz Cinema. Though Pakistan had gained independence, it was still part of the British dominion and making a film on the Kashmir issue was asking for trouble. Actor Allaudin, who later appeared in numerous films, starred under his brother’s name, Riaz, in this movie. Kashmiri leader Sardar Ibrahim, who later served as the president of Azad Kashmir, played a crucial role in the hour-long movie.

Actor/director Zahoor Raja’s action film Jihaad was released in January 1950. Zahoor Raja had a few successes in India before Partition and his film allowed filmmakers to explore subjects like jihaad, yet many distanced themselves, fearing the government’s wrath.

It was during the war of 1965 that the idea of Sadaaye Kashmir was conceived. The film had Kamal and Rani in the lead with Lehri, Meena Shoori, Habib and Tarana featuring in prominent roles. The film began with the visionary director Khalil Qaiser, who had Shaheed, Haveli and Ajab Khan to his credit, however, Qaiser’s cold-blooded murder and several production delays directly affected the film. It was released as Do Baghi in 1970 and sank without a trace.

The most prominent movie to date, Riaz Shahid’s magnum opus Yeh Aman (1971), showed Indian atrocities in the occupied valley. Journalist-turned-writer Shahid began his career by highlighting social injustices but later shifted to global sufferings of Muslims. Born to a Kashmiri family, he penned classics like Shaheed, Firangi and Zarqa. Yeh Aman was no different.

However, the censor board was quite brutal with the movie. The Tashkent Accord of 1966 was still active and a clause stated that both India and Pakistan would discourage the use of any propaganda against each other. Presented as Aman, the film was released as Yeh Aman after several cuts. Shot in Azad Kashmir, it was released days before the 1971 Indo-Pak War and failed to portray the Shahid’s vision.

Shahid contracted cancer shortly after and died in October 1972. His son Shaan Shahid was just a year old at the time of his death and later continued his father’s mission. The decorated actor starred in some unforgettable films that tackled the liberation of Kashmir. In Musalman (2001), he appeared as a freedom fighter Azad Khan paired with Zeba Bakhtiar — who attained fame after starring in Raj Kapoor’s film Henna filmed in the picturesque valley of Kashmir a decade earlier.

Shaan also starred in the Hasan Askari directed Tere Pyar Me (2000), where he became a freedom fighter near the climax of the film. In Sangeeta’s Jahad (2002), Shaan played the role of a Sikh who helped freedom fighters against Indian forces. Babar Ali as Sultan and Saud as Kashmira had meatier roles in the movie, however, the production suffered due to the change of hands.

By the late 80s, Babra Sharif planned film the Kashmir ki Beti and even hired famed director Hasnain to turn her idea into a reality. Pundits predicted that it would be a masterpiece, comparing it to Shahid’s Zarqa. But the film did not go further than a couple of shoots and later vanished from the face of the Earth.

More recently, Imran Malik’s Azaadi (2018) and Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s Kaaf Kangna (2019) have had a story revolving around Kashmir. Azaadi was set in Indian-Occupied Kashmir with Moammar Rana playing the role of a freedom fighter. Despite the presence of veteran actor Nadeem, the film was a mediocre success. In Kaaf Kangna, Kashmir was restricted to punchy dialogues by Sami Khan, who goes to India to meet his ladylove. Qamar’s directorial debut was ruined due to bad acting and horrible production while Sami’s role as Ali Mustafa turned out to be an extension of Shaan’s character Ali in Tere Pyar Me.

Due to its scenic beauty, the valley of Kashmir was once the subject of poems, stories and folktales. Now, it’s restricted to being the subject of action films. What the film industry needs is government support, something that has been missing since 1948. A couple of television serials were produced by PTV in the 90s, but the issue, which should be addressed seriously, is only relegated to a gazetted holiday on February 5.