Aamir Bashir discusses the making of his debut film, ‘Harud,’ and the evolution of Kashmir. He remarks on the considerable changes in the region since the film’s creation, adding that the efforts to bring Kashmir into the mainstream have arguably led to an opposite effect.
Bashir recalls that the creation of ‘Harud’ was driven by a desire to tell an authentic Kashmiri story. Bashir reflects on the filmmaking process, emphasizing how the limited resources required them to adapt. He believes that this resulted in an organic and gratifying outcome. He also suggests that he would have wanted to make it more accessible, but he stands by his artistic choices.
He highlights the difficulties in acquiring funding for films that tackle political subjects related to Kashmir. Despite winning awards at festivals, his project ‘The Winter Within’ struggled to find distribution. Bashir also delves into the reasons behind his limited screen presence, suggesting the industry’s changing nature as a factor, including the necessity of social media engagement and the difficulties caused by an economic downturn.