By: Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Sep 08: The waters of Dal Lake have turned into an unusual cinema hall, where a screen floats on the lake, and audiences watch from its banks, adding a distinctly Kashmiri touch to the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK).
The Floating Cinema, one of the festival’s most striking attractions, began on the opening day of the four-day festival on Monday with a screening of the 1961 classic Junglee.
According to details, people gathered along the banks of Dal Lake to watch the film on the floating screen, turning the lakefront into an open-air viewing space.
The initiative takes cinema beyond conventional theatres, bringing films into a setting that has long been part of Kashmir’s cinematic identity.
On Tuesday, the second day of the festival, the Floating Cinema screened Arzoo (1965) from 8 pm to 10 pm. The brochure also lists Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) for September 9 and Kabhi Kabhie (1976) for September 10, continuing the festival’s celebration of classic films associated with Kashmir.
The choice of films adds a nostalgic layer to the initiative, as Kashmir’s landscapes have featured prominently in Hindi cinema over the decades.
With the screen placed on the waters and viewers gathered along the lake, Dal Lake itself becomes part of the cinema experience, bringing together Kashmir’s iconic scenery and its long association with films. (KNO)
