Shikara

Shikara is the name of the house built by Shiv Kumar Dhar and his wife Shanti. It was their home, a place where their love grew after marriage and the place where they wanted to live out their lives. This Kashmiri Pandit couple was driven out of their homes in Kashmir like the lakhs of other Pandits in the 1990s. The film follows the story of this couple. It portrays pain and agony that people like them had to go through after being dislocated from their homes. The love story unfolds beautifully despite a disaster that dislocates them from their homes.

The dislocation of Kashmiri pundits from Kashmir has not got the due attention it deserves. Imagine if someone today comes to your home and asks you to leave it and your city permanently. Communal tensions and riots have destroyed the lives of so many. Those were just not houses but homes where love and emotions of families were nurtured.By losing their homes the Hindu pundits lost their identity and recognition. They lost their motherland.

In a complete Vidhu Vinod Chopra style the film has been made very subtly and beautifully. There is not as much aggression or violence as one would expect with Kashmir or militants.  But still the emotions and pain have been communicated convincingly. The beautiful couple in the picturesque valley convey the deep pain and loss very subtly.

Rating - 3 / 5