Kashmir offers stories beyond landscapes: Pankaj Tripathi, Divyendu
Budding filmmakers, movie buffs and students attending the first-ever International Film Festival in Srinagar on Tuesday interacted with the star cast of the popular web series Mirzapur.
During their exchange of ideas, Actors Pankaj Tripathi and Divyendu, known for their roles as Kaleen Bhaiya and Munna Tripathi, respectively, said Kashmir can offer filmmakers stories beyond its landscapes, including its people, food, culture and everyday life.
Responding to a question related to filmmaking in Kashmir, the duo said the region offers rich material for storytelling, praising its natural beauty and deeply rooted local narratives.
“We like Dal Lake. Kashmir has beautiful, rooted stories,” they said.
They added that Kashmir can offer filmmakers stories beyond its landscapes, including its people, food, culture and everyday life.
“Kashmir is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. If infrastructure is further developed, it would be wonderful to come here and tell stories about Kashmir,” they said.
Another renowned filmmaker, Imtiaz Ali, during his interaction with the media, said Kashmir has many untold stories, characters and cultural traditions that can provide rich material for filmmakers, while expressing hope that the region’s growing connection with cinema would create more opportunities for local talent.
Interacting with the media at SKICC Srinagar, Ali said he always hopes to return to the region whenever he shoots a film. “We always hope that whenever we shoot, we come back to Kashmir. There is perhaps no other place in the world that is so cinematic,” he said.
On Laila Majnu, he said the film was deeply rooted in Kashmir, with its characters and setting closely connected to the region. “Laila Majnu is a film based in Kashmir. The characters are from Kashmir, and the whole setting and feel of the film are Kashmiri,” he said.
Ali said he was happy that the film continued to remain popular in Kashmir even years after its release. “Eight years later, it is still popular here. This is Kashmir. I am very happy and I thank Kashmir for Laila Majnu,” he said.
Speaking about the future of cinema in the region, the actors Pankaj Tripathi and Divyendu said Kashmir’s storytelling potential goes far beyond its scenic beauty. There is a lot of future ahead. There will be theatres, OTT platforms and many other opportunities. There is tremendous scope,” they said, adding that young talent in the region could benefit from the evolving film ecosystem.
Responding to students and aspiring filmmakers attending the festival, the actors said film festivals and masterclasses offer valuable opportunities to learn from experienced professionals.
“We have seen how films are made. In a four-day festival, if there are masterclasses, that is a very good thing. There will be a lot to listen to and learn,” they said.
Reflecting on Kashmir’s long association with the film industry, the actors noted that while filmmakers historically visited the region for song sequences and shoots, there is now an opportunity to tell deeper stories about its people and culture.
“Kashmir has had a connection with cinema for a long time. People used to come here for songs and shoots. But there are so many other things, the people, food and culture. Why not talk about them?” they said.
Meanwhile, Five films, helmed by directors from Jammu and Kashmir, have been selected for the J&K Select Section, the competitive category of the 1st International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK), 2026.
The films were recommended by the Preview Committee constituted for the festival, following a review of submissions and assessment of their artistic merit and suitability for the competitive section.
The selected films include Searching for the Grandpa, directed by Mohammad Wali; Arifa, directed by Rohin Ravendran Nair; Batt Koch (The Lost Lane), directed by Siddarth Koul and Ankit Wali; Tasrufdaar (Djinns of Kashmir), directed by Kapil Mattoo; and Naqsh-e-Daur (The Story of Ghulam Nabi Dhar), directed by Baba Tassaduq Hussain.
Spanning Kashmiri and Hindi languages, the films explore themes ranging from childhood, family and memory to displacement, identity, heritage, resilience and the changing social landscape of Kashmir.
Searching for the Grandpa follows two young siblings in a Kashmiri village on Eid. Arifa centres on a woman returning to her ancestral home in Kashmir and confronting memories of her childhood and father. Batt Koch explores displacement, identity and the enduring idea of home through the story of a Kashmiri migrant family. Tasrufdaar (Djinns of Kashmir) weaves together mystery, memory and the scars of Kashmir’s past, while Naqsh-e-Daur portrays the life and legacy of a Padma Shri-honoured woodcarver in downtown Srinagar, highlighting Kashmir’s craftsmanship, heritage and resilience.
The selected films will form part of the competitive programming of the four-day International Film Festival, offering audiences and filmmakers an opportunity to engage with distinctive cinematic voices and stories from Jammu and Kashmir.
