Movie buffs celebrate silver screen's return to Kashmir after 3 decades

The inauguration was followed by a screening of the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chadhha, viewed by an audience that included media persons, officials, guests and local residents.

As the lights went out at the auditorium, a deafening but familiar “yahoo” cry greeted the audience at Kashmir’s first multiplex. It was the evergreen song “Chahe koi mujhe junglee” featuring Shammi Kapoor that was shot in Kashmir in 1961.

The song ended with a tag line, “Kashmir has witnessed every emotion of Bollywood,” and drew a big applause. It was followed by more nostalgia — a montage of Bollywood songs, starring from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Rakhee Gulzar and Shashi Kapoor to Ranbir Kapoor — reminding one of Hindi cinema’s link with Kashmir, a favourite shooting location.

Madhu Gauri, a local who was in the audience, said later: “I am