The 520-seater INOX multiplex in Srinagar is the venue for screening the films shortlisted at the IFFJK. Photo: Wikimedia CommonsAs Jammu and Kashmir hosts its first international film festival, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it is to remind the film industry that, before Switzerland and other countries, Bollywood films were shot in Kashmir. The International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) is being held from September 7 to 10.The valley, with its beautiful landscape, had been a favourite destination of filmmakers. But as the first signs of militancy surfaced in 1989, Bollywood disappeared from Kashmir. We explain how militants’ threats led to the shutdown of film theatres in the valley, snapping Kashmir’s connection with Bollywood.Until 1989, Kashmir was one of the most favourite destinations for Hindi filmmakers. Be it Junglee (1961) starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Bano, or the Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh-starrer Betaab (1983) — which lent its name to the Pahalgam valley where it was shot, filmmakers would often turn to Kashmir’s beautiful landscapes for film shoots.Also read | Kashmir, Bollywood’s now-forgotten backdrop, opens doors to cinema againAt the time, Kashmir had over a dozen cinemas, nine of them operating from the capital city of Srinagar.The shutdownAs militancy erupted, cinema halls and liquor shops became the first target of militants. On August 18, 1989, a militant outfit called “Allah Tigers” announced a complete ban on cinema halls and liquor shops in Kashmir. Within the next few months, all the cinema theatres in the valley were shut down.As the militancy gained a foothold in the valley, many of these cinema halls were occupied by the security forces, turning them into makeshift camps and interrogation centres. Some others were converted into hospitals, nursing homes, and business centres.Also read | Kashmir travel advisories affect more than tourism in the regionAs cinemas were shut down, the Indian Army intervened and opened some of its garrison theatres for the public such as Thimayya Hall in Baramulla and Zorawar Hall in Pattan. But as militancy took a turn and fidayeen (suicide attackers) started to storm the security camps, these theatres were closed to the public as a security measure.The government pushStory continues below this adIn the mid-1990s, after an elected government came to power in Jammu and Kashmir in 1996, the government pushed for reopening of cinema theatres in Kashmir by promising them interest-free loans. In 1998-99, three cinemas reopened in Kashmir: Broadway and Neelam in the high security zones of Badamibagh cantonment and Civil Secretariat respectively, and Regal cinema in the heart of the city.On September 24, 1999, as moviegoers were coming out of Regal cinema after watching Pyaar Koi Khel Nahin on the first day of re-opening, militants hurled a grenade, killing a civilian and injuring over a dozen people. The cinema was shut again, this time permanently. Now, a big shopping centre is coming up in its place.NewsletterFollow our daily newsletter so you never miss anything important. On Wednesday, we answer readers' questions.SubscribeThe Broadway and Neelam cinema halls continued to run, but low footfall made them financially unviable. Broadway closed down in 2005 while Neelam survived for another five years before eventually shutting down in 2010 — in between, the latter survived a fidayeen attack in 2005. So, the valley was once again without cinema theatres.Cinema returnsIn 2022, the Dhar family, which owned the Broadway Cinema, made another push and opened the valley’s first multiplex theatre — INOX — in Srinagar’s high-security Shivpora neighbourhood.Story continues below this adThe 520-seater multiplex, with three movie theatres, is also the venue for screening the films shortlisted at the IFFJK.Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More Tags:Explained HistoryExpress Explained