Jammu and Kashmir leaders urge filmmakers to move beyond romanticized scenery

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for Jammu and Kashmir to evolve beyond its role as a scenic backdrop for Bollywood, urging filmmakers to incorporate the region's actual culture and human stories into their work. Speaking at the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK), Abdullah emphasized that the region's true cinematic strength lies in its 'Kashmiriyat,' hospitality, and artistic traditions, such as Sufiyana Kalam and instruments like the Santoor and Rabab.

This push for deeper storytelling aligns with academic critiques of the region's cinematic history. A paper by Nivedita Sharma, published in the Journal of Research in Vocational Education, argues that Bollywood has long used Kashmir as an idyllic setting for romance while leaving local identity and lived narratives peripheral. Sharma notes that for decades, the industry maintained a simple equation where Kashmir served primarily as a visually seductive setting for songs and dance sequences, often relying on stereotypes rather than authentic cultural representation.