In Mumbai, CM Omar calls for Kashmir voices in cinema

Mumbai, Jan 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said here on Thursday that the stories of Jammu and Kashmir should be told by filmmakers from Jammu and Kashmir.

Visiting the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) campus at the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), Mumbai, to explore avenues for institutional collaboration focused on film education, creative technologies, and capacity building for the revival of the film industry in J&K, CM Omar said, “Our own stories must be told by our own people. Through a formal relationship with institutions like the IICT and NFDC, we aim to equip our students with new-age skills in editing, sound, lighting, VFX, and post-production. This will not only reduce costs for filmmakers but also create jobs and sustainable livelihoods in an industry that continues to grow.”

A strategic discussion session was held to deliberate potential areas of collaboration between IICT and the J&K government.

Speaking during the interaction, CM Omar reflected on Kashmir’s deep cinematic legacy and the changing nature of filmmaking.

“There was a time when a film was not considered complete without at least one song sequence shot in Kashmir. Over the years, circumstances changed, and filmmaking in J&K became difficult. Today, as conditions improve, we are consciously working to restore the relationship between cinema and J&K,” he said. “At the same time, filmmaking itself has evolved. Much of what once required large physical setups can now be achieved through computers, post-production, and advanced technologies. If we want J&K to once again become an attractive destination for filmmaking, we must build local human talent and post-production capability.”

The discussions focused on student exchange and institutional cooperation in skill development and capacity building across AVGC and emerging creative technologies; digital heritage and cultural preservation using immersive tools; and the creation of a collaborative startup incubation and innovation ecosystem to empower youth from J&K and generate sustainable employment.

Following the discussions, CM Omar visited the NFDC Bharat Pavilion and Museum, which chronicles India’s cinematic and creative heritage.

The visit highlighted the NFDC Museum’s role as a national cultural repository dedicated to preserving, presenting, and celebrating India’s film legacy, before the CM proceeded to onward engagements at the NFDC campus.

The visit, held at the IICT-NFDC Campus, was hosted by Chief Executive Officer, IICT, Vishwas Deoskar, along with Governing Council Member of IICT, Munjal Shroff.

During the visit, CM Omar was taken through a structured walkthrough of IICT’s academic and technology infrastructure at the main campus.

He viewed a curated audiovisual presentation at the Rangayan Preview Theatre, outlining IICT’s vision, academic framework, and role in advancing India’s creative economy.

This was followed by a live demonstration at the Anubhuti Drishya Immersive Studio Lab, showcasing applications of augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality through hands-on experiential interaction.

The programme also featured a digital twin demonstration at the Photogrammetry Studio, where a live 3D photogrammetry scan was conducted to create a digital avatar, highlighting the growing relevance of immersive and emerging technologies in contemporary filmmaking, post-production, and content creation.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Executive Officer, IICT, Vishwas Deoskar, said, “We are grateful to the CM for visiting the IICT campus. The interaction was extremely meaningful, and we look forward to building productive collaborations that can enable skill development, foster innovation, and create long-term employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young talent from J&K, particularly within the media, entertainment, and creative technology sectors.”