When indie film-maker Ashvin Kumar received no concrete answer to his question, he decided to release his documentary Inshallah, Kashmir on the Internet on January 26, today
Even if we shout aloud from rooftops, the truth remains that we aren’t yet ready for the truth. One such instance would be indie film-maker Ashvin Kumar’s Inshallah, Kashmir: Living Terror. Or else, what could explain the ban on the film by the Censor Board.
This documentary film contains shocking stories of brutality and terror by Indian armed forces and militants alike. “It’s a frank and straightforward commentary from the people of Kashmir — a break from the warped idea that all Kashmiris are militants,” explains Ashvin, adding, “I’ve lost a year because the film couldn’t be released and in December 2011, we finally had a DVD release.” So, as the country celebrates Republic Day, Inshallah… will be available free to the public on the Internet. “Releasing it online is a way of bypassing the censorship issues. I think the topic of Kashmir is far more important than what the Censor Board feels,” he states.
Choosing January 26 to release the film for free download on the Internet has its own reasons. “I want to question India’s democracy — it’s time for introspection. Have we really progressed much since 1947 when we still have burning issues like Assam, Manipur, Dantewada?” asks the film-maker.
Shooting in Kashmir, with all the countless restrictions, is quite a task he describes. “With all the troops there, flow of information is closely monitored. Army camps and check-posts mean scrutiny and explanations. This is one of the reasons why Kashmiris don’t open up, fearing harassment,” informs Ashvin.
Though the film will be available to the world on January 26, Ashvin rues that if Indians are ignorant about the real issues plaguing the state, the world will be even more ignorant. “What the corporate media and government want the world to know is doled out as information about Kashmir. Sadly, this isn’t always the truth,” says the film-maker. In spite of the stepmotherly treatment by the India lawmakers and Censor Board, a number of US universities have already shown interest in Inshallah...
“They want to buy the rights of the film for their archives and libraries. After all the brouhaha that happened in the country, I definitely don’t want to earn a single rupee out of the Indian market,’ he signs off.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}