Veteran filmmaker Muzaffar Ali unravels a new side of Kashmir in a new video film, with the help of his daughter Noor.
Ali's "A New Dawn In The Valley" premiered on the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, on August 5. The over 20-minute video shows the beauty of Kashmir through the eyes of Noor. The conversation between father and daughter forms an engaging narrative.
The video opens with Ali saying: "It seems like another era since I left my beloved Kashmir. Life has taken so many twists and turns, but none of them have led me back to the land of my birth."
Things change when his daughter, a computer circuit designer, opts to go back to the Kashmir Valley.
"Strange are the ways of the universe, I think it conspired to bring me here," she says.
Further explaining what pulled her towards her roots, she shares: "I couldn't sleep that night after seeing the haunting images of Muzaffar Ali's film 'Zooni', shot in Kashmir in 1989. I wanted to see Kashmir, my own land and just check it out for myself."
"Zooni" is a still-unreleased film, starring Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. It revolves around the 16th century Kashmiri poet Habba Khatoon.
Moving on from the images of the film, the video shows the beauty of pashmina and other crafts. Noor, in turn, feels at home, and encourages her dad to join her.
"They are building new roads, planning to set up IIMs and IITs, all this could mean that you could come back to teach and maybe even work at big hospitals like AIIMS that are coming up," she says.
Noor I shown to connect with Valley girls with entrepreneur spirit. One of them is an architect, another a designer, still another a horticulturist. "They are so inspiring," she says.
The video shows women taking charge in different fields.
The description of the video is apt. It says: "What no one will tell you about #Kashmir: funds for industry recovery across the sector, encouraging womennovators, connecting with the hearts and minds, #IndiaNarrative dives deep in bringing the real story of #NayaKashmir, stay tuned for 'A New Dawn in the Valley' #August5."
It has so far got numerous positive responses from viewers.
"This is an awesome video, I have ever seen. Just loved it. We all should share it as much as we can. It should reach the world," commented one.
Another wrote: "Only Muzaffar Ali can capture the ethereal beauty of #Kashmir
J&K is undergoing quiet transformation."
Another was happy to see "most positive thing seen coming out of the valley in ages".