First Kashmiri-Kannada feature film touches a chord in the Valley

Story by Ehsan Fazili | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 29-06-2025

Local artists displaying poster of Harmukh at the launch in Srinagar

Ehsan Fazili/Srinagar

“The idea was to give a quality cinema and to promote regional cinemas. That is the need of the hour because all institutions were shut down over the years and artists had hardly anything to do for decades. Regional cinema is the only medium to get people connected. With this film, Harmukh, which is a sensitive word in our culture, we have tried to unite the two different cultures and languages---Kashmiri and Kannada. There is vast scope for such attempts as India comprises different cultures and languages. While a negative impression of Kashmir has gone across, we tried to convey a strong message that the people of Kashmir are peace-loving”.

This is how Dr. Ayash Arif, Producer and Lead Actor in Harmukh, the first bilingual feature film, described the idea behind it on the occasion of its premiere at INOX multiplex in Srinagar on Wednesday.

Shot both in Kashmir, particularly in high mountains around Gangabal, the feature film is directed by the well-known Director Ashok Kashyap K from Karnataka and producers and technicians from both regions.

Ayash Arif told Awaz-The Voice, it has taken one year to complete the film, which revolves around two families, one from Kashmir and other Karnataka, united by the bond of friendship between two different languages, cultures, and regions.

Ayash Arif (Left) with Kashmiri artist Shadi Lal Koul

The premier of the film, attended by the National Conference leader, Dr Farooq Abdullah, among nearly a distinguished hundred persons associated with films, theatre, art, and culture, received accolades from the audience.

“Harmukh stands as a moving tribute to the age-old communal harmony and human connection that has long defined our valley. At a time when narrative about Kashmir often gets clouded, this film dares to offer the real story, one of empathy, friendship, hospitality, and cultural richness”, writes a netizen, after watching the premiere. Earlier, the film was launched at Tagore Hall in Srinagar on May 27, with the unveiling of its trailer, songs, and posters.

The actors from Karnataka include Sonal, playing the role of Harmukhi, veteran filmmaker and actor T S Nagabharana and Sita Khote while the actors from Kashmir include Ayash Arif, Producer and lead actor with co-producer, Mushtaq Wani, and actors G M Wani, Anju Matto, Javed Khan, Imran Farooq, Mohammad Shahid, and Nishu Sharma. The screenplay is by M S Ramesh and dialogues by Rekha Rani. The story, direction, and cinematography are credited to Ashok Kashyap K.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah among the audiences

Ayash Arif is a household name in Kashmir for his involvement in theatre and Doordarshan for more than four decades. He has got Ph. D in Indigenous Folk Theatre of Kashmir and Electronic Media and, worked as a writer, journalist, producer, director, and actor. Born in Srinagar, Ayash Arif pursued a Theatre Repertory Course in 1973-74 followed by his entry into the newly set up Srinagar Doordarshan in 1974.

His talent was soon recognized and he bagged leading roles in teleplay, serials, and films, which earned him a name in the field of entertainment. He also ventured into directing and producing programmes for Doordarshan and has produced telefilms, documentaries, and entertainment programmes for both national and regional channels.

He received accolades from the J&K Academy of Art, Culture, and Languages in 1985 and 1986 as Best Actor Award. His works like Chari Truch and Ghulam Begum Badshah marked significant milestones in his directing career, earning him the Best Director Award in 2001-2002. His telefilm “Habba Khatoon” in 2009 earned him the Best Director Award and in 2010 he received the Best Achievement Award for another telefilm titled “Athwas.”

Over time, Ayash Arif produced more than 30 documentary films, TV films, tele-serials, musical programs, and operas, showcasing his boundless creativity and commitment to his craft.

A Poster of film Harmukh

Popularly known as “Ayash” along with the lead actor, Shadi Lal Koul as Shamsuddin in Shab Rang” a teleserial, which ran 104 episodes on Srinagar Doordarshan between 1981 and 1983.

The release of the bilingual film, Harmukh, has raised hopes among the artists for the revival of films in Kashmir. The valley was a favourite venue of shooting of Bollywood movies from the 1960s to the 1980s. The shooting and other artistic works by the theatre and Television have taken a back seat since the eruption of separatist militancy in Kashmir. Nearly a dozen cinema halls functioning in the valley were shut down in this turmoil.

Efforts are going on to revive the cinema culture in the entertainment-starved Kashmir since the late 1990s, but there was hardly any success, though one or two cinema halls were opened for short periods.

With the improvement in the situation and the opening of INOX multiplex at Batwara, in October 2022, there is hope for the revival of cinema in Kashmir. This would give entertainment to the people in the entertainment-starved Kashmir, which has been longing for its revival for decades. The people, particularly youth would also be open to the big-screen cinema in Kashmir.