Srinagar: The maiden G-20 summit began in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Monday with a side event on "Film Tourism For Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation." While addressing the gathering of delegates from several countries and officials, the speakers recalled their memories of Kashmir vis-à-vis films. G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant gave an outline of his rendezvous with Kashmir when he was a young boy and also asserted how Bollywood film is incomplete without archetypal Kashmir scene.
"I visited Kashmir and was lucky to have witnessed a shooting of a film in Kashmir's Pahalgam. Those days were golden days," he said. He further said, "there is a lot of potential for filmmaking in Kashmir and over 300 films have got permission to be shot in Kashmir. There cannot be a better place than Kashmir for shooting movies. We'll go out of our way in providing assistance in shooting movies and shoot locations and help to shift film destination from any other part to Kashmir"
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of India, in his address, outlined how actors and directors from Jammu and Kashmir have immensely contributed to Bollywood.
"KL Sahgal, Jeevan, Omparaksh, Raj Kumar and Ramanand Sagar have contributed a lot to film making in Kashmir. They gave a new direction to the Indian cinema," he said while recalling his college days.
He further said, "filmmaking was also providing part-time jobs to the students. There is a lot of potential. Earlier, there was a hartal call made from Pakistan but now nothing works. We lost two generations during incompatible times. The situation is improved and we owe it to the common man." Union minister for Tourism GK Reddy, in his address, said: "Srinagar is India's oldest and most beautiful city. Due to its unique beauty, the city has attracted filmmakers for years. Our aim is to revive film tourism across India."
"We are chalking out a comprehensive program for tourism growth. Naatu Naatu from RRR movie and The Elephant Whiskers won Oscars this year. The ability of films to transfer views to different locations. It helps to provide employment opportunities along with promoting best practices. Film tourism is not only about silver screens but also promoting our culture and local talents and this is our agenda too," he said while extending gratitude to the guests and delegates.
