IFFJK Day 3: Kashmir-Bollywood Bond Set to Deepen as Filmmakers Tackle AI, Scripting, and Local Talent
Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani advocates Valley-first opportunities; cast of ‘Main Vaapas Aunga’ alongside Sunidhi Chauhan, Imtiaz Ali, and Sanjay Suri celebrate Kashmir’s cultural resurgence.
SRINAGAR: The ongoing inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) cemented its cultural momentum on Wednesday, gathering celebrated filmmakers, actors, screenwriters, and technicians to deliberate on regional storytelling, technological shifts, and the long-term cinematic roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir.
The event, hosted at INOX Srinagar, underscored a collective drive to rekindle the Valley’s historic cinematic heritage while ensuring the next generation of local storytellers and artists find an enduring foothold in mainstream productions.
“Our relations with Bollywood will become stronger. Kashmir and Bollywood have had a very old relationship, and that relationship will become stronger. Filmmakers should come here, make films, and give opportunities to our local talent.”— Nasir Aslam Wani, Advisor to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
‘Main Vaapas Aunga’ Crew Reconnects with Valley Roots
A marquee highlight of Day 3 was a joint media interaction featuring the cast and crew of Main Vaapas Aunga, attended by acclaimed filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, actor-producer Sanjay Suri, singer Sunidhi Chauhan, and actors Vedang Raina and Sharvari.
Reflecting on the shifting tide, actor-producer Sanjay Suri pointed out that bringing back an active filmmaking atmosphere to Kashmir after several decades serves as a vital milestone for both the cinema industry and the people of the Valley.
Young actor Vedang Raina shared his deeply personal ties with the region: “I have not seen as much of Kashmir as I wanted to. Kashmir will always be home. My family is from Rainawari. I can understand a little Kashmiri, but I cannot speak much. It feels really good to be here.”
Playback icon Sunidhi Chauhan revisited the memory of performing the iconic track ‘Bumro Bumro’, recalling that she learned the language specifically for the composition. Describing Kashmir as “very deep,” she expressed an eagerness to hold a live concert in the Valley and treated attendees by humming lines of the track.
Actress Sharvari emphasized inclusivity in modern entertainment, noting that regional dialects and languages must never serve as barriers to artistic expression and talent access.
Masterclasses, Technology & Thought-Leadership Sessions
Throughout the day, comprehensive panels dissected creative and technical aspects of contemporary cinema:
Echoes of the Chinar: Empowering Next-Gen Storytellers
Moderated by Danish Renzu with writer-filmmaker Rahhat Shah Kazmi, the session analyzed youth-led representation and independent creative institutions shaping J&K on screen.
Thrillers in the Valley: Crafting Suspense in J&K
Screenwriters Ritesh Shah, Anusha Nandakumar, and Sandeep Saket examined how Kashmir’s topography and unique atmosphere function as active characters in high-tension narratives.
Global Partnerships: International Co-Productions
Moderated by Rabiranjan Maitra alongside panelists Kapil Matoo, Munjal Shroff, and Saba Bhat, discussions centered on sustainable financing models and festival marketing circuits for regional cinema.
The Gentle Truth: AI & Documentary Filmmaking
Sanskar Desai, Subbiah Nallamuthu, Arun Chadda, Yadu Vijaykrishnan, Supriyo Sen, and Raja Shabbir Khan engaged in a discourse on artificial intelligence, observational ethics, and hybrid formats in non-fiction storytelling.
A Writer’s Story & Valley Cinematography
Tripti Sundar Abhikar, Neeraj Mishra, Shankar Ramakrishnan, and Biplab Goswami deliberated subtextual dialogue and regional warmth in screenplays, followed by a framing and natural light masterclass led by Modhura Palit, Shehnad Jalal, and Suresh Bharadwaj.
Technical Workshop: Optical Engineering by Canon
A hands-on technical session titled ‘The Moving Image: From Sensor to Frame’ walked delegates through large-format sensor architecture, color science pipelines, and cinematic lens engineering.
Festival Lineup: Major Screenings at INOX
The festival floor drew packed audiences for its curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts scheduled for September 9: