Film about displaced Kashmiri Pandit family screened in Srinagar

Kashmiri film “Batt Koch”, which explores the life of a displaced Kashmiri Pandit family, received a strong response on Sunday as it was screened at the lone multiplex here.

The film has been written and directed by young Kashmiri Pandit filmmakers Siddharth Koul and Ankit Wali. It explores the life of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit family living in Jammu, focusing on an elderly man suffering from memory loss and his journey to revisit his ancestral home in Kashmir.

The screening was also attended by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Akshay Labroo. Speaking to reporters, Labroo appreciated the efforts of the young filmmakers and welcomed the film’s screening in the city. “It is a very happy moment for all of us that the film was made in Srinagar, is based in Srinagar, and that we are able to screen it here in Srinagar with a large audience,” he added.

Film director Koul said the story is about the longing of the Kashmiri Pandit family and their deep emotional bond with their motherland.

“They yearn to return to Kashmir. The narrative revolves around whether or not they are able to return, and if they do, what experiences await them upon their arrival,” he said. He said it is the earnest hope and collective desire of the entire Pandit community to return to their motherland.

Koul said the film also carries a message of brotherhood. “We want people to stay connected with their motherland. We would like to promote more Kashmiri cinema and Kashmiri talent globally,” he said.

Film director Wali said that when a person is compelled to leave their home, the memories associated with it remain with them forever. “Although we were born in Jammu, we retain an intrinsic connection with Kashmir. We may have only heard stories about it, but that emotional bond remains deeply ingrained within us,” he said.

The directors said most of the actors are Kashmiri Pandits, including Bollywood actor MK Raina of “Taare Zameen Par” fame.