No Fathers in Kashmir trailer launched by Mahesh Bhatt

The trailer of National award-winning director Ashvin Kumar’s gripping tale No Fathers in Kashmir was released today. Present at the launch were Mahesh Bhatt, Soni Razdan, and her co-actors Anshuman Jha and Maya. The poster says, ‘Everyone thinks they know Kashmir.’ Two teenagers are about to change all, that is what the trailer introduces us to in its strikingly harsh and real visuals. No Fathers in Kashmir is a film that is a unique mix of the fight for truth and compassion – at once harsh in its quest and tender and heart-warming in its universal human emotions. Director Ashvin Kumar revealed that they came real close in round two (of the CBFC and producer pow-wow) to getting the U/A certificate that he claimed for his film, that is still pending since the film has been sent back to FCAT for the third time by the CBFC. Technically, it’s a children’s film. Ashvin has all our collective wishes in hoping that the censor’s certificate is granted at the earliest. Ashvin looks like a man whose inner fire is raging brightest, refusing to be snuffed even temporarily by crippling red-tapism and politics. But c’mon, give him a break guys! It’s the fifth time they have changed the release date due to the CBFC shenanigans, and its April 5. Let’s hope we get to see the film on the big screens soon.

Launching the trailer, Mahesh Bhatt said, “This is a staggering, heart-wrenching film. Ashvin has the guts to embrace all that darkness and then having done that, bring us so much ‘light.’ In these dark times of hate, here’s a love story from the blood-soaked valley of Kashmir which has the audacity to hope.” The film tells the tale of Noor and Majid played by newcomers Zara Webb and Shivam Raina respectively, who are on a journey to find their respective fathers who have gone missing in the valley. Check out the trailer link right here:

The film raises several imperative questions, about compassion and empathy of those in the valley and its many realities. Soni Razdan, who plays a prominent role in the film said, “I have a personal liking towards Kashmir because I’m a half Kashmiri. When Ashvin first sent me the script, I found it very interesting because here was a film that showed reality. There have been many films on Kashmir but this one isn’t peppered by drama, love story and other things, though it is all of that too. It’s what is truly representative of the situation is in the valley. That’s what drew me to the film.” The film marks the acting debut of filmmaker Ashvin Kumar, and also stars Anshuman Jha, Soni Razdan and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Ashvin Kumar, the one-man army has also written and produced the film, along with directing and acting in it.