SRINAGAR: Defence Ministry has refused permission for a movie supposed to show a relationship between a Kashmiri boy and an army officer, the Lok Sabha was told on Friday. The proposal was part of 18 proposals submitted to the army for permission.
“The reason for refusal for granting NOC is the portrayal of a romantic relationship between an Army soldier serving in Kashmir and a local boy which casts Indian Army in poor light and raises security issues,” Defence Ministry said in a written response to a question by BJP MP, Varun Gandhi.
Army had received 18 film proposals for permission, which were grated in 16 cases. In one case, the idea was rejected and one proposal is still under consideration.
MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt said that the reason behind the permission “to ensure that the Armed Forces are not depicted in a manner which brings disrepute to the Armed Forces/Government/Country, as also to ensure factual accuracy and that no classified matters are brought out in the open domain that could effect in security of the country.”
The proposal had been submitted by filmmaker Onir, reports appearing in the media suggest.
Onir, actually Bhutan born Anirban Dhar is a national award winning film director, who has been visiting Kashmir. In August 2021, he had conducted a short filmmaking workshop in Langate army camp that was participated by 11 youth including a girl. Earlier in 2017, he had introduced a Kashmiri boy, Zain Khan Durrani to the film world in his project Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz.
