With the indispensable efforts in place to promote film tourism in the valley, Kashmir is yet again gaining ground as one of the prime destinations for filmmakers and shootings. As the Bollywood shootings have off- late returned to the valley with several Bollywood biggies flocking to Kashmir for their film shootings, the administration has indulged in several endeavors to attract Bollywood celebrities for setting up a concrete base for shootings in Kashmir.
The new film policy implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir administration aims at reviving film tourism in the valley which is expected to give a major flip to UT’s economy.
The initiative is believed to set in new dimensions of film tourism in Kashmir, transforming the UT into a leading destination for shootings and production of all feature and non-feature films, and television shows.
Vishwajeet Raja Patil, Director Raja Rani travel agency,and president Maharashtra tour organisers association, has facilitated visits of renowned Bollywood actors, producers and directors in the valley for the past several years while being associated in providing logistics for the film shootings in the valley.
Talking to Rising Kashmir, Vishwajeet said that their aim was to showcase the beauty of Kashmir to the outside world with an effort to spread a positive message about Kashmir valley to boost the film tourism.
The Raja Rani travel group is providing logistics for the shooting of upcoming TV show ‘Pashmina”. Pertinent to mention here, the first day of the shooting of the show was inaugurated recently by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha while the project is run under the Alchemy Films Private Limited and will be telecasted on Sony SAB TV.
“Pashmina is all about a love story showcasing love and beauty of Kashmir. There is no negativity, nothing included that can spread a negative message about Kashmir. It will showcase the real essence of Kashmir and what it means ”, Vishwajeet said.
He said, “Sensational news has been dominating in the valley which catches eye balls within no time. Gradually with a peculiar approach from all the circles, the negative feeling about Kashmir is fading away and we need these kinds of projects, these kinds of serials to be shot in Kashmir that would spread a positive message about this place”.
“Our aim is to foster a positive impact on people using these films by showcasing peaceful and mesmerizing Kashmir sans the negativity”, he said.
Expressing concern over distorted portrayal of locations of Kashmir in Bollywood movies, Vishwajeet said, “Many films shot in Kashmir have not showcased these places as Kashmir but as other locations outside Kashmir, for instance recently Shahrukh Khan’s ,movie, ‘Dunki’ was shot in Kashmir at several locations but it is not shown as Kashmir , they showed it as some other location which should not happen”.
Vishwajeet said they have proposed setting up a film institute in Kashmir where local youth can be trained in technicalities involved in film shootings.
“ We are proposing to the government to set up a film institute where we can train local Kashmiri youth in how to handle camera, lighting and other technical aspects involved in film making. This will create opportunities for youth of Kashmir apart from saving the production cost “, Vishwajeet said.
He emphasized upon involving local youth in Bollywood film making so that opportunities could be created for them in this industry.
“Suppose the crew includes junior artists from outside, our efforts are involved in involving local Kashmiri youth for doing such roles. There is an upcoming project which has Shahrukj Khan and they are flying a crew of 200 people from Mumbai. Our proposal is to take that crew from Kashmir only”, Vishjwajeet said.
He said that the logistics agency was exploring these options for not only promoting film tourism but also create some source of income for people in Kashmir.
According to the recently implemented new Film Policy, the Government of Jammu & Kashmir will be developing potential shooting locations that have aesthetic and cinematic appeal.
Regarding the film policy put in place by the UT government Vishwajeet said, “They have declared the implementation of new film policy however there is the issue of rebate, no one has yet received any rebate for all the films shot in Kashmir in the past few months. There is a difference between clarity and deliverance. In foreign countries the Govt provides rebates within two or three months only”.
With the era of film shooting returning to Kashmir valley Film tourism is anticipated to be a major driver of economic growth and job opportunities for the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The film policy launched by the Administration is expected to provide a boost to film tourism in Kashmir valley.
Director Raja Rani travels said that local associates in the valley were involved in line production.
“When we work with local line producers it provides them a support system. In our endeavour to bring renowned Bollywood film makers, production houses in the valley, we get assistance from local Kashmiri youth”, the director said.
Adding, “We always believe in empowering local youth in such ventures”.
Vishwajeet said the upcoming projects included big Bollywood actors like John Abrahm.
“We have a project on cards in September, October. It is a big banner where we will be shooting with John Abrahm. Then we have other web series in the pipeline and some other shootings on cards”, he said.
Adding, “We have upcoming projects with the highest budgets. We are planning to do projects with some Hollywood actors and renowned Bollywood celebrities”.
