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Filmmaker Rahat Kazmi feeling humiliated over passport issue

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 • Hindi Comments
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Rahat Kazmi, director of internationally acclaimed feature film 'Identity Card' has registered an RTI against passport authorities recently. Rahat had applied for passport one and half year ago, and since then he has been waiting for passport but because of being a Kashmiri, extra doubts are usual and that`s the reason that he did not get the passport yet.

Kazmi stated - "My film is quoted as "one of the bravest film from India" but see the irony of life that even being a filmmaker I am fighting for my identity. I had applied for a Tatkal passport last year when I had to travel for a conference in UK, but in Passport I got to know that "residents of Jammu and Kashmir are not allowed for a Tatkal passport."

He further went on to add, "I did not believe that and started arguing with staff, then they showed me a booklet with guidelines from ministry where it was written. It hurt me as a Kashmiri, if we call Kashmir; an integral part of India, should we consider Kashmiris too a part or only land is the part...? Who creates this difference, why even after applying for a normal passport I was humiliated for one and half year, why specially I was asked to show five year residence proof because I am a Kashmiri, and even after doing that I could not get a passport. How can you deny to a Citizen of your country?

Speaking about his upcoming film Rahat said, "Identity Card is a document of security. But at times this document of security becomes the threat. The threat, which can jeopardize the very human identity. It is a film about a beautiful land of beautiful people, who unfortunately, at this moment, are living the state of confusion and suspicion. It is disheartening to see how, on one hand, the dream of AZAD KASHMIR is creating the slavery of terrorism and on the other hand the brute force to keep the peace, is creating more casualties. But in this terrifying situation, the most amazing species, called the humans, is still surviving. And they are surviving with tears and laughter at the same time... Despair and dreams at the same time..."

Reality and the fantasy at the same time... And that gives us Hope! 'Identity card' is an independent Hindi film made cooperatively by the actors, the technicians and many others. This Film is from the Director, who has closely experienced the life in Kashmir. And this film, in a way, is a reflection of his experiences.

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