Pathaan’s release in Kashmir has given a chance to the youngsters of valley to go out and get a movie experience for the first time. The lone theater in Srinagar is seeing unprecedented footfall. Inox Shivpora, Srinagar is going to be housefull for the next two week, as per advance booking numbers. The audience mostly comprise youngsters, who were born in the 90s, when terrorism ruled the roost in the valley.
“We are watching a film for the first time and we loved the film. I had a great movie watching experience,” said a girl who came to watch the film with her friend.
Watch | Happy faces emerging out of @InoxSrinagar , the lone theater in the valley. #Pathaan brings audience back to cinema halls in Kashmir
Many of these youngsters, born in the militancy years are watching a film in the theater for the first time.
Report by @RajaMuneeb pic.twitter.com/8Ljk191c9F
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 27, 2023
It is hard to miss the feeling of joy and exuberance on their faces. Standing in long queues doesn’t make them impatient.The audience mostly consists of young girls and boys between 18-25, who have not known what visiting a theater meant since they were born in the militancy years.
The New Indian caught up with a girl who came all the way from Ladakh and was waiting in the queue to watch the movie. “I have a lot of expectations from the movie, I hope the movie turns out to be really good,” she said.
Another movie-goer Saqib gave a thumbs up to the film. “This movie turned out to be far better than what I had expected,” he said.
Theatres opened after a gap of three decades in the valley last year. The first film to be screened was the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha.
Owing to the threat from separatist organizations and terror organizations, the cinema industry had shut down in the valley in 1990. Though, in 1997 a couple of cinemas opened again but terror attacks and constant threat from separatists forced their closure.
After the abrogation of article 370, in view of considerable improvement in the security scenario in the valley, the cinema hall opened once again last November. It is the first time that the lone theater is experiencing such a rush of people who are enthusiastic to watch Pathaan.
Before the 90s, Kashmir had a culture of watching movies. The Theatres in Lal Chowk, Khayam, Srinagar, Regal Chowk, Khanyar were never short of audience. Several Bollywood films in the 60s and 70s, including ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’ (1964), ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ (1965) and ‘Bobby’ (1973), among many others, were shot in Kashmir.
With Kashmiris showing the eagerness to go and watch films in the theaters, there is demand for more cinema halls.