No Fathers In Kashmir

Untold stories from the valley

No Fathers In Kashmir Story: A teenage girl from Britain, Noor visits Kashmir with her mother only to stumble upon the real story behind her missing father. She befriends a local Kashmiri boy, Majid who has suffered a similar fate and he agrees to help her unravel more truths. But their pursuit ends up taking a different turn.

No Fathers In Kashmir Review: Director Ashvin Kumar’s previous works – 2004’s Oscar nominated short film Little Terrorist and National Award winning documentaries, ‘Inshallah, Football’ and ‘Inshallah, Kashmir’ have explored the region’s troubled political backdrop. And with ‘No Fathers in Kashmir’ he takes the narrative forward.

The filmmaker brings forth a brutal and harsh reality of the Kashmir Valley through the eyes of young Noor (Zara Webb) and Majid (Shivam Raina). When Noor finds out that both their fathers were ‘picked up’ (the meaning of which Noor eventually understands) by the Indian army years ago, with no news of them since, she wants to find out more. Her probing unravels more than what she bargained for including the double dealings of an idolized, radical local leader, Arshid (Ashvin Kumar).

Despite the grim story it sets out to bring forth, No Fathers in Kashmir is sprinkled with heart warming, light moments of interaction which bring a smile to your face. Especially the moments between Noor and Majid, that eventually develops into a tender love story even though their present realities and circumstances are so different.

Captivatingly shot (barring the mobile camera shots which are jarring), the film soaks you in the breathtaking beauty of Kashmir and creates a poignant juxtaposition with the scars of conflict apparent in the valley. Add to that, the haunting background score that is mostly drawn from local folk music, adding its own dimension. The screenplay is delicately balanced with the filmmaker highlighting the dilemma on both ends. While the story is heart-wrenching and mostly gripping, the pace of the film does underwhelm at times.
The superbly talented actors, Soni Razdan and Kulbhushan Kharbanda add their heft to the film as Noor’s grandparents in Kashmir. While Razdan’s emotive eyes do most of the acting, Kharbanda’s character is the voice of reason in the film. Ashvin Kumar as Arshid plays a crucial role, effectively. But it’s the innocent charm of the lead pair Zara Webb and Shivam Raina that shines through - especially Raina who touches a chord as Majid.

This film is not a light watch – it’s a poignant tale that leaves you thinking about the half-widows and half-orphans, and many such untold stories.