Bollywood Kashmir thriller set for release
MUMBAI — Amid escalating protests in Indian Kashmir, Bollywood is set to step into highly sensitive territory with a promise to tell the story of violence in the region "as never…
MUMBAI — Amid escalating protests in Indian Kashmir, Bollywood is set to step into highly sensitive territory with a promise to tell the story of violence in the region "as never seen before" on the big screen."Lamhaa" (The Moment), which arrives in cinemas on July 16, has already fallen foul of censors and Kashmiri people and its release comes as anti-Indian feelings in the volatile Muslim-majority region run high.Six people have been killed in the last three days and eleven in less than three weeks during demonstrations against the killing of Kashmiris by Indian forces, which began with the death of a schoolboy on June 11.India's censor board took issue with promotional trailers for the thriller and reportedly objected to its description of Kashmir as "the most dangerous place in the world", forcing director Rahul Dholakia to make cuts.During shooting, locals even forced the film crew to re-shoot a scene, angry at its depiction of the Himalayan region often referred to as "Paradise on Earth" but which has been wracked by fighting and protests for decades.Dholakia, whose previous film "Parzania" tackled Hindu-Muslim riots in western Gujarat state in 2002, said he expected action by the censor but hoped the film would help foster dialogue."There is a tremendous trust deficit and we need to bridge that by talking and keeping our past prejudices aside," he told reporters.The action-packed trailer now running in cinemas pledges to show "the breathtaking story of Kashmir as never seen before in the history of cinema."The film offers lead actor Sanjay Dutt, famed for his tough guy roles and off-screen troubles, a chance to secure his return to superstardom as he plays a military intelligence expert sent to Kashmir to root out a web of corruption.Dutt deflected questions about potential solutions that could bring peace in the state, which is administered jointly by India and Pakistan but claimed in full by both."I am too small a personality to talk about this issue. I am not a politician," said Dutt."All I know
last modification 2010-07-01 00:00:24
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