Militancy-hit Doda opens up to TV productions

Doda: As a television crew from a Mumbai-based production house gets ready for some lights, camera and action in the militancy-hit Sarol Bagh village in Doda district, the locals, too, are gearing up for a new beginning.

It's been almost three decades since any film or television shooting took place in Doda, the last being Yash Raj films' Noorie, back in 1978.

“If a banner like Yash Raj could make a film at that time – 30 years back – so why can't we?” wondered television actor, Muskan.

Actor Sudesh Berry was very enthusiastic, too.

“It's so beautiful! I am feeling that our film industry was missing this – I can imagine what they are missing, now. We don't have to go Switzerland, New Zealand and Kashmir,” he said.

The village might not have the required infrastructure and the security might be a concern, but the 140-member crew is not deterred – they've been camping in Doda for the past 45 days.

“I stayed here and earlier was working all alone. And then I was interacting with people and finally, I thought that things are coming back to normal,” said director Imtiaz Punjabi.

While the Kashmir Valley has been witnessing film shoots for the past two years now, it is still new to the region known as "mini Kashmir." Hopefully, this is not the end.

With inputs from T N Khan

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