Aamir Bashir reflects on the 15th anniversary of his directorial debut, ‘Harud,’ and the changes in Kashmir since the film’s release. He observes that the focus on integrating Kashmir into the mainstream might be resulting in the ‘kashmirisation of India.’
Bashir states that his primary motivation for making ‘Harud’ was the film’s completion, without focusing on audience expectations. In hindsight, Bashir would have liked to make the film more accessible. He highlights how limited resources shaped the production process, making it an organic and satisfying experience. Bashir also acknowledges that the film was a result of his boredom, and a desire to tell an authentic Kashmiri story.
He points out the difficulties in securing funding for films with political themes centered on Kashmir. He shares his experience of producing ‘The Winter Within,’ which received festival awards but failed to secure distribution. He also addresses the absence of acting opportunities, suggesting a combination of the industry’s economic issues and the increasing demand for social media presence as contributing factors.