Srinagar, Sep 7: Bollywood actor Fatima Sana Sheikh has called for greater support and opportunities for young people in Jammu and Kashmir, saying cultural events can help local talent gain confidence, visibility and exposure beyond the region.
Speaking on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar on Monday, Sheikh said the participation of artists and filmmakers from outside the region could encourage local youth to showcase their abilities and engage with a wider cultural community.
She said such events send a message to young people that platforms exist in the region where their talent can be recognised and respected.
“I think it is very important here. Any cultural event like this gives a lot of encouragement to youth that people are coming from outside. There is a platform here and so much respect is being given,” she said.
Sheikh urged young people in Kashmir to focus on education while also participating in cultural activities and using such platforms to make their voices heard.
“I just want all the youth here to move forward. Study, go to cultural activities and increase your voice,” she said.
The actor also underlined the role of cinema, music and poetry in presenting Kashmir through the experiences and perspectives of its own people.
She said narratives about Kashmir are often shaped from outside, while regional cinema can capture the complexities and everyday realities of the region more closely.
“Because the stories that we see of Kashmir are seen from an outside perspective. Regional cinema shows the intricacies there,” she said.
Sheikh said it was important for audiences unfamiliar with Kashmir to understand the region through the perspectives of its own people rather than relying only on narratives presented from elsewhere.
“For a layman who is not from that world, not from the city or not from the state, it is very important to see the world from a local perspective,” she said.
“We are not just the news that is shown. We are a lot more than that,” Sheikh added, saying cultural forms such as cinema, music and poetry could help showcase the wider identity and diversity of Kashmir.
The International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir is being held in Srinagar from September 7 to 10.
