On a pleasant September evening, the Sher i Kashmir International Convention Centre on the banks of Dal Lake was bathed in bright lights. The occasion was the opening of the International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir, celebrated as Rang e Cinema. For anyone watching the venue decorated with colourful banners and filled with delegates, the message was unmistakable. Kashmir was once again opening its doors to the magical world of cinema.

For me, the venue brought back a deeply personal memory. Five years ago, in the aftermath of August 5, 2019, I spent nearly four months detained inside this very building before being moved to the MLA hostel. Sitting in that same hall among filmmakers, musicians, and artists from across India and abroad, I could not help reflecting on how much the atmosphere has shifted. The gathering saw Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, and several governors sharing space with creative minds. It felt less like a routine state function and more like a sincere attempt to rebuild an old cultural bond.

Inevitably, my mind travelled back to another September 7, thirteen years ago. In 2013, maestro Zubin Mehta stood at the historic Shalimar Bagh, conducting the Bavarian State Orchestra for the Ehsaas e Kashmir concert. The melodies of classical western masters floated across the lake towards the Zabarwan hills. The setting was magnificent........

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