Director's Note

CONTEXTUALIZING ‘INSHALLAH, FOOTBALL’ 

‘There’s no better way of understanding Kashmir right now- Tehelka Magazine

In the past twenty years there have been less than five films made about Kashmir that delve into the reality of what is happening in that valley.

In the same period, there has been a tacit understanding between government and media that has resulted in a serious dearth of discourse presenting the Kashmir issue.

‘Inshallah’ claims the space abdicated in deference to 'greater concerns' of national sovereignty and security.

Needless to say that it is a unique film for that reason; we are reliably informed that no such documentary film has ever been made about Kashmir. This is sustained by our own attempts at researching this film in which we turned up very little apart from a handful of books and a few articles, the rest of literature and visual materials parroted the government programmed view.

It is noteworthy that the Government of India interlocutors in Kashmir have asked us for a copy of Inshallah, football and have appreciated the film.

Kashmir conflict is at the global epicenter of terrorism and in magnitude is similar to Palestine problem though the 'West' has only recently begun to hear the 'other' side of the conflict.

Most experts are of the opinion that should 'Kashmir' be resolved, Pakistan and India disputes and the huge (nuclear) militarization would lose its raison d'etre.Inshallah, Football is an important film because it is the first attempt to humanize the demon Jihadi Islamic Terrorist, taking the wind out of the sails of the Indian government stereotype/propaganda generated over twenty years of conflict. This is the reason it was first banned then awarded an 'A' certificate by the Central Board of Film Censors, despite being even handed, even gentle in its critique.