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At the trailer launch of his upcoming film “Shikara: The Untold Story of Kashmiri Pandits“, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra said he condemns all kinds of violence — the one that is taking place today, and the one that happened in Kashmir 30 years ago.
Chopra was referring to the horrific Kashmiri Pandit exodus from Kashmir that happened on January 19, 1990, which is the subject of his new film.
The trailer launch on Tuesday, incidentally, saw a rare appearance by AR Rahman, who has scored the music of the film, along with the cast.
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Speaking to the media at the event, Chopra gave his reaction on the Kashmir exodus as well as the ongoing violent attacks on students across the nation.
“I condemn all violence and I am not saying this for the sake of it. I condemn the violence which took place 30 years ago and I condemn the violence which is taking place today. But somewhere deep down in my heart there is this hopeful individual — maybe because I am from Kashmir and attached to poetry. I feel that someday this icy mountain will melt, the snow will be gone and there will be spring. I am saying this with all honesty. I am hopeful that someday soon there will be the blooming of India for each one of us,” said Chopra.
The film marks the return of Vidhu Vinod Chopra to direction in India after 13 years. His last directorial feature film was “Eklavya: The Royal Guard” in 2007. “Shikara” addresses the issue of ethnic cleansing and riots that took place in 1989 in Kashmir, and in recent times when Article 370 was abolished.