Indian government brutally suppresses Kashmir freedom for over 70 years
- Arfat Sheikh's father was murdered by unidentified gunmen during the Kashmir conflict, leading Sheikh to seek a platform to express his narrative.
- After the 2019 repeal of Article 370, there was an increased suppression of Kashmiri voices in Bollywood, prompting Sheikh to create his film.
- Saffron Kingdom addresses themes of identity, trauma, and displacement, highlighting the significance of authentic representation in cinema.
In response to the longstanding misrepresentation of Kashmir and its people in mainstream Indian cinema, Arfat Sheikh, a filmmaker with a personal connection to the conflict, decided to create Saffron Kingdom. Sheikh, whose father was a renowned singer killed during the anti-India insurgency in the 1990s, was driven by his grief and a desire to tell his story. Following the Indian government's revocation of Article 370 in 2019, which intensified the suppression of Kashmiri voices, he felt a pressing need to articulate his heritage through film. His project reflects the experiences of a Kashmiri-American family grappling with loss and trauma caused by the ongoing conflict and the challenges of cultural identity amidst displacement. The film explores the narrative of generations affected by violence, showcasing their struggles to rebuild lives in America while reconciling with their pasts. Saffron Kingdom has been recognized at international film festivals, winning awards that underscore the importance of diverse representations of Kashmir. Sheikh emphasized the significance of employing a cast comprising 55 percent women and actors from various minority backgrounds who could empathize with the central themes of displacement and cultural struggle. By doing so, he aims to amplify the Kashmiri voice that has been systematically marginalized in Bollywood and bring attention to the erasure of Kashmiri history and culture from mainstream narratives.