The Union Territory administration in Jammu and Kashmir has roped in noted Director, producer and writer Imtiaz Ali to promote local art and culture by providing necessary platforms to the local artists and youth through workshops and related activities.
Ali, who had directed the famous bollywood film Jab We Met, Rockstar, had also shown keen interest in making films casting local artists using local themes, music, art and locales.
Interacting with the media here in Jammu, Director Imtiyaz Ali claimed that he is in awe of the culture, art and talent found among J&K artists. He remarked that the richness of culture is so deep here that it would take many initiatives to showcase it fully. Secretary Culture & Tourism, Sarmad Hafeez; Director Archaeology & Museums, Munir-ul-Islam were also present on the occasion.
He proposed that the vast pool of talent found here is diverse and encompassing every sphere of cinematic requirement so it would take us nothing to search here from beginning to climax of the film.
Ali further said that he is fully convinced that the old, traditional folklore offers so many stories that could be translated into best cinematic presentations. He said that the efforts made earlier has not been enough so bringing more themes to fore would be our main focus.
Secretary Culture and Tourism Sarmad Hafeez said that this initiative is one among many to bring J&K back on the top of creativity in the entertainment industry, theatre, culture, art, crafts and literature which it once enjoyed in the past.
He said it would be a greatest confidence booster for our youth who can get carried away towards other socially evil forces in absence of such an environment here. He said that art can bring the best out of them and the platform we propose to give them would be national one.