Raja Shabir Khan who hails from Srinagar is the emerging and dynamic filmmaker from Kashmir and has recently won the Best non-feature film and Best Cinematography Awards in the 60th National Film Awards for his Documentary Film Shepherds of Paradise.
In an exclusive interview with ‘The Kashmir scenario’, Raja Shabir Khan talks to Rameez Makhdoomi.
How was your childhood like?
My childhood was mostly spent in my native place of Chanapora Srinagar and I got my formal education from a school nearby. I was since my childhood inclined towards entertainment world as I used to appear as child artist in Radio Kashmir and Doordarshan.
How was your academic life like?
I was a very promising and shining student as I used to be a topper and my parents sent me for engineering outside, but I left it as my interest made me to apply in a prestigious national level film making and cinematography school (Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute )and I was able to qualify the All India level Test.
What took you to documentary film making?
I was at first always interested in making something which is related to fiction and I also made some feature films. With time, I also developed interests for Documentary film making and my first Documentary was named –‘Angels of Troubled Paradise’. The film tracks the everyday life of Adil, who lives in Srinagar, based on an occupation and events, no civilian in the rest of India can even dream about. Adil is the sole earning member of a very poor family. He is a school dropout, who collects used tear smoke shells from different places in the city and sells them as scrap to the scrap dealers to eke out a living. The scrap dealers do not accept shells with the remnant of the gas inside. So Adil and other boys like him must empty the shells. Some of these are ‘live’ which carry the risk of the boys losing their lives in case of an explosion.
The documentary was received well on international stage and was showcased at prestigious platforms in countries like Japan and South Korea.
What was so special about ‘Shephards of Paradise’ that it recently bagged ‘Best Cinematography Awards’ in the 60th National Film Awards?
This film is about the nomadic life of shepherds (Bakerwals) of Kashmir as they travel across Jammu to Kashmir. The Jury has found that this Documentary Film is well documented and in a qualitative manner touches the diverse paradigms of the life of Shepherds.
As a matter of fact, it was a very challenging task to film it because of the tough terrain, rough weather, long journey and limited resources. The total strength of crew was just two -me and my cousin.
Your take on the talent related to Documentary Film Making in Kashmir?
I do not know many people in Kashmir who are associated with Documentary Film Making or maybe I have interacted with less number of people. So far I have only found Jashn-e-azadi a documentary of good quality produced with reference to Kashmir.
Is it true that Documentary Film Making is a non-profitable activity?
Yes, it is true that in Kashmir and in the rest of India the documentary film making is mostly a non-profitable activity and lags funds. But in Europe, we have ample of avenues for showcasing the documentaries and impressive funds are available for same.
What is difference between talent outhere and in other parts?
Kashmir is rich in talent but only thing we lack is proper exposure and training so as to excel in a big way. There is much professional approach outside especially in foreign countries, but unfortunately in Kashmir we lack proper professional approach.
What is your message to youth interested in Documentary Film Making?
You have to have passion and creativity .It is not easy job to make films as you have to have lot of knowledge and inborn creativity.
Yes, it is true that in Kashmir and in the rest of India the documentary film making is mostly a non-profitable activity and lags funds. But in Europe, we have ample of avenues for showcasing the documentaries and impressive funds are available for same.