‘Lamhaa’ screening problematic in Kashmir
May 20th, 2010 - 6:12 pm ICT by IANS
By Subhash K. Jha
Mumbai, May 20 (IANS) The makers of “Lamhaa”, a film based on Kashmiri militancy, are facing problems in showcasing it to a Kashmiri audience for the simple reason that there are not many proper and operational movie theatres in the valley.
The film is all set for release July 16.
Much as director Rahul Dholakia wants to take the hard-hitting political drama for its initial screening into the valley, there is no way he can do so.
And Dholakia is at his wit’s end.
“‘Lamhaa’ was made for the people of Kashmir. It’s about their life, their anguish and their politics. How can I not show it to the people of Kashmir!” he said.
“The film belongs to them. It is unimaginable for me that the rest of the world would watch ‘Lamhaa’ and not the Kashmiris,” he added.
Dholakia now plans to take the print and projection equipment and screen the film at key centres of Jammu and Kashmir on his own. “There’s no option but to follow an unconventional method to get the film screened in the valley,” he said.
Although several situations and characters in “Lamhaa” are based on real Kashmiri politics, producer Bunty Walia and leading man Sanjay Dutt are learnt to have been advised by their schoolmate Omar Abdullah not to play up the Kashmiri card.
A hush-hush screening of “Lamhaa” is being planned for father and son — Farooq and Omar Abdullah.
Rahul said: “It isn’t as though I’m playing down or distancing myself from the reality of the valley. But considering how volatile the situation is, it’s better not to get any section of Indian politics hostile about our film.”
To de-accentuate the political side of the film, the producer now plans various glamour events connected with “Lamhaa”, including a fashion show featuring Sanjay Dutt, Bipasha Basu, Kunal Kapoor and Anupam Kher at the forthcoming IIFA awards in Colombo.
The actors in Kashmiri attire will walk the ramp with India’s top models.
Dholakia hopes that they’re not downsizing the film’s powerful message about peace in the valley by glamorising “Lamhaa”.
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- 'Lamhaa' is about the turmoil in Kashmir Valley (IANS Preview) - Jul 12, 2010
- Anupam shocked after 'Lamhaa' banned in Middle East - Jul 15, 2010
- Dholakia to write book on Kashmir - Jul 15, 2010
- 'Lamhaa' banned in Middel East: Bunty Walia - Jul 14, 2010
- Govt. Clears The Release Of Lamhaa - Jul 01, 2010
- Not mocking Aishwarya Rai in 'Lamhaa': filmmakers - Jul 12, 2010
- Bollywood Film Lamhaa Banned In Middle East - Jul 15, 2010
- 'Lamhaa' director invited to visit Kashmir - Aug 08, 2010
- 'Lamhaa' happened after I spoke to Kashmiri students: Dholakia - Jun 28, 2010
- 'Lamha' about Kashmiris, not government: Rahul Dholakia - Jun 04, 2010
- Movie Review - Lamhaa (2010) - Jul 16, 2010
- Sanjay, Bipasha And Dholakia To Start NGO For Kashmiri Kids - Jul 24, 2010
- Dholakia's 'Lamhaa', a restrained, thought-provoking docu-drama (IANS Hindi Film Review, Rating: *** and half) - Jul 17, 2010
- Movie Review: Lamhaa(2010) - Jul 19, 2010
Tags: anupam kher, bipasha basu, farooq, fashion show, father and son, indian politics, initial screening, jammu and kashmir, kashmiris, kunal kapoor, leading man, militancy, political drama, politics producer, projection equipment, sanjay dutt, schoolmate, subhash k jha, top models, unconventional method