Cinema Halls Reopen in Kashmir Valley After Three Decades

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir have pretty sights for everyone but nestles in itself a weeping heart. It has been the worst survivor of armed insurgency for decades. People of the valley lived every day in fear of being killed.

Entertainment disappeared from the valley since the advent of a militant outfit Allah Tigers in 1989, which announced a total ban on cinemas and bars in the valley saying it was against Islamic principles and beliefs. 

For more than three decades the people of the valley were kept away from Bollywood movies. 

This dry spell will end in the valley when one multiplex in Srinagar will put up Aamir Khan's new release 'Laal Singh Chadda' on Tuesday and thus will end the Valley's 32-year-old wait to watch Bollywood movies. 

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated two cinema halls, one each in Shopian and Pulwama on Sunday. 

While speaking about the historic day that Kashmir is witnessing, Manoj Sinha said, "Cinema is a very powerful medium which reflects the culture, values and aspirations of the people. It opens the door to the world of knowledge, new understanding and enables people to understand each other's culture". 

"I see my dream coming true. Wholesome family entertainment had taken a back seat. When we were younger, we used to go to cinema halls in Kashmir. There were 10-12 cinema halls here", Vikas Dhar, owner of the multiplex at Srinagar told in a statement. 

The people of the valley are excited that cinema halls are going to reopen in Kashmir after a gap of 32 years. Speaking on the occasion a movie buff said, "I was eagerly awaiting for this day to arrive. I had to travel outside the valley to enjoy movies and now that cinema halls will reopen in our valley I can enjoy films from the comfort of my city and not travel to cities in other states to enjoy movies"

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