Watch: Trailer Of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Shikara Based On Mass Exodus Of Kashmiri Pandits

The trailer of upcoming Bollywood movie ‘Shikara: The Untold Story of Kashmiri Pandits’, based on the violence against the community about 30 years ago killing hundreds of them and forcing thousands to flee the region, was released on Tuesday (7 January).

Highlighting the events from January 1990, the film is going to shed light on the plight of Kashmiri pandits in the Srinagar valley. The movie is directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

At the trailer launch of the film, Chopra said he condemns all kinds of violence -- the one that is taking place today, and the one that happened in Kashmir 30 years ago.

Speaking to the media at the event, Chopra gave his reaction on the Kashmir exodus as well as the ongoing violent attacks on students across the nation.

"I condemn all violence and I am not saying this for the sake of it. I condemn the violence which took place 30 years ago and I condemn the violence which is taking place today. But somewhere deep down in my heart there is this hopeful individual -- maybe because I am from Kashmir and attached to poetry. I feel that someday this icy mountain will melt, the snow will be gone and there will be spring. I am saying this with all honesty. I am hopeful that someday soon there will be the blooming of India for each one of us," said Chopra.

‘Shikara’ addresses the issue of ethnic cleansing and riots that took place in 1989 in Kashmir, and in recent times when Article 370 was abolished.

Bollywood has always shied away from making mainstream cinema addressing the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.

Asked if Bollywood has been unfair in its approach in regard to Kashmir, Chopra said: "I have a very close relationship with Bollywood. I certainly belong to Bollywood but I am a Kashmiri. I hardly ever go out, and as most people know I don't even go anywhere to collect my awards. So what they (the rest of Bollywood) are doing and what is happening in their lives, or what kind of cinema they are making, are things I really cannot talk about. I am happy in my house, and they are happy in their houses. I have made the film and that is all I can say."

‘Shikara: The Untold Story of Kashmiri Pandits’ is produced and directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The music is composed by A R Rahman. The film releases on 7 February.