Kashmir, the beautiful valley of romance and agony

Though Chetan Anand's iconic war production did not have Kashmir as its central part, the state played an important role. The story of a battalion during the Sino-Indian war of 1962, the film was shot extensively in Ladakh and had several Kashmiri characters trying to protect the soldiers, or join them in the war. 

This was perhaps the first Indian film to hint at the growing threat of terrorism in Kashmir. Subhash Ghai's film had the villain, Dr. Dang, setting up base in a small village in Kashmir, unknown to the villagers. The idea of a nation under threat from a foreign power using terrorism as its primary weapon came across strongly in the film. It was a marker of things to come as the conflict in the region escalated.

The film that marked AR Rahman's rise to the pinnacle of Hindi music was also rooted in the Kashmir conflict. The story of an ordinary housewife trying to retreive her husband from the clutches of terrorists, it was a sensitive film that debated the reasons for the actions of both the terrorists and the Indian army. It was also Mani Ratnam's first tryst with the region. 

Mani Ratnam returned to Kashmir with Dil Se.... Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala and Preity Zinta, the film told the story of a radio journalist in love with a terrorist. Shot extensively in the region, the film tried to shed light on some of the salient issues as well. But the music by AR Rahman and the splendid choreography overshadowed it all.

It wasn't surprising when director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who had grown up in the valley, chose the Kashmir conflict as a topic for his film. Mission Kashmir had Hrithik Roshan playing the angst-ridden lad who seeks revenge against the killing of his parents by the Indian army, while Sanjay Dutt played the kind army officer who raises him. The collateral damage to human life was one of the key features of this sensitive film. 

Farhan Akhtar's second film was another coming-of-age story about a young man joining the army. Some of the film's most crucial scenes were filmed in Kashmir, and portrayed the difficult life of the Indian soldier. 

Shoojit Sircar's directorial debut was another insightful film about the human tragedy of Kashmir. The film remains one of the rare ventures that portrayed the love story of an Indian army officer in Kashmir with a local woman and stands out for its perspective on the hostility with which army officers are sometimes viewed in the region.

Based on the Tom Cruise-starrer, A Few Good Men, Samar Khan's film was the perfect analogy to the conflict. Revolving around the court martial of a Muslim soldier in the Indian army, the film often crossed lines with its controversial views on defending the nation, and the growing unrest around it. It also had some stellar acting performances by Kay Kay Menon and Rahul Bose. 

One of the many films that shed light on the growing threat to children from terrorism, Sikandar starred R Madhavan, Parzan Dastur and Sanjay Suri. The film focused on how children are the most vulnerable victims of the never-ending conflict in the valley.

Winner of the National award for Best Film, Harud was directed by Aamir Bashir. Revolving around the young men lost in the rising militiant insurgency in the valley, the film was shot entirely in Kashmir. 

Vishal Bhardwaj's adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet replaced the 'rotten state of Denmark' with Kashmir. The retelling brought forth the many perspectives and tragedies of the region, which did not go down well with some audiences. Yet, it remains one of the more sensitive and well-discoursed films in recent times on the biggest conflict in the Indian subcontinent.

Not all films set in Kashmir talk about the conflict in a dark and dreary way. Kabir Khan's blockbuster Bajrangi Bhaijaan was a heartwarming tale of loss and redemption across the border that divides India and Pakistan. The film went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the year, and brought back the trend of Indo-Pak unity films in Hindi cinema.