A multiplex INOX that is coming up at Sonwar in Srinagar and is scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of this month has provided a sigh of relief to the movie buffs in the Valley.
The decades-old conflict in Kashmir has given a tough time to the inhabitants of the Valley, especially the youth who otherwise also feel depressed with their competitive atmosphere. Amid such a situation, the people of the valley needed some recreational facility and nothing more can offer this soothing service than the cinema.
The closure of cinemas in Kashmir after the terrorist threats since 1990s not only created a fear psychosis among the people who would otherwise love to go for movies on a routine basis but also played a spoilsport in the efforts of the entrepreneurs who wanted to invest in this field of creativity.
Some 19 cinemas including the nine in Srinagar city alone wore a deserted look after the ban imposed by the terrorists in 1990 on their functioning. The cine goers of Valley would visit Jammu or outside J&K to watch their favorite movies.
Amid this scary situation establishing a state of the art multiplex in Srinagar that reflects a blend of art and Kashmiri culture was a herculean task to accomplish. But a young and dynamic Kashmiri Pandit Mr. Vikas Dhar has done it and carved out a niche for himself that would be mentioned in the annals of celluloid history of J&K in times to come.
The multiplex would not offer best of the movie stuff but would also be much sought after recreational place for the specially abled persons for whom ramps have been provided in all its auditoriums. The government of J&K should extend its full help to the entrepreneurs who are willing to invest in establishing the recreation facilities in Kashmir and that would be a major relief for its troubled inhabitants.
