From Code to Cinema
‘From Code to Cinema: Shafat Qazi’s Journey from Silicon Valley to the Songs of Paradise’
In a freewheeling and candid conversation with Greater Kashmir, Senior Editor, Nazir Ganaie, sits down with entrepreneur, globetrotter, and now film producer, Shafat Qazi, whose latest released film, Songs of Paradise, marks a deeply personal and cultural milestone. Known for his pioneering role in the American tech landscape as the founder of BQE Software, Qazi has spent over three decades building intelligent systems that power professional services. But his latest passion project takes a different route — one that winds through memory, music, and the mountains of Kashmir.
With roots firmly planted in both innovation and identity, Qazi opens up about what inspired his transition from boardrooms to backlots, from building businesses to producing films that speak to the heart of cultural resilience. In this exclusive interview, he shares how entrepreneurship equipped him for storytelling, why travel fuels his creativity, and how Songs of Paradise, a tribute to the legendary Raj Begum became his cinematic love letter to Kashmir.
Here’s an excerpt from the conversation.
Greater Kashmir (GK) Tell us about yourself and the kind of projects you’re involved in the United States—both in business and entertainment.
Shafat Qazi (SQ): I’ve spent most of my life so far in building technology businesses in the United States, most notably as the founder and CEO of BQE Software, a company that offers intelligent business management platforms for professional service industry. My entrepreneurial journey started from my college days and has always been guided by my curiosity and fueled by my passion.
In recent years, I’ve expanded that passion into film and music production, focusing on stories that reflect our cultural identity and its preservation. Besides building software and producing films, I’m also deeply committed to travelling around the world. So far, I’ve visited 85 countries, with a goal of reaching 100 by 2027. Every time I travel to a new country, I feel like I earned a degree in life. It helps me understand how our thinking, values and cultural identity are shaped by our surroundings, our community, where we were raised and educated.
Greater Kashmir: As someone who has successfully built businesses in the US, what inspired your transition into film production?
Shafat Qazi: Storytelling has always been at the heart of entrepreneurship. Building a company and producing a film both begin with a vision, discipline, ability to execute and a belief that something useful and meaningful deserves to be made. My transition into film was a bucket list item of mine for many years driven by my love for films. After I stepped down as the CEO, I shifted my energy in working on my bucket list which included this film.
Greater Kashmir: How do your entrepreneurial skills influence your approach to filmmaking, especially when dealing with stories from Kashmir?
Shafat Qazi: Entrepreneurship teaches discipline, clarity and teamwork, qualities essential for any large project, especially filmmaking. My leadership skills that I have learned as a CEO helped me assemble and lead a brilliant team to make this masterpiece. When dealing with Kashmiri stories, I approach them like I would a startup: with structure, empathy, respect and a global mindset. My goal was to create art that is emotionally true to Kashmir, yet universal in appeal.
On Songs of Paradise
Greater Kashmir: What was the core idea behind Songs of Paradise, and how did the concept come to life?
Shafat Qazi: The idea was born when our director Danish Renzu met Raj Begum in 2015 and he shared her life story with me. I had grown up listening to her voice, it was the soundtrack of Kashmir’s soul. Her courage, resilience and voice inspired me to bring this incredible story to the screen through Songs of Paradise. We wanted to celebrate the women who gave Kashmir its musical identity and shattered the glass ceiling in 1950s, when it was not acceptable for women to sing publicly.
Greater Kashmir: How was the character and story of Raj Begum chosen as the central theme of the film?
Shafat Qazi: I want to emphasize that the movie is not biopic. It was purely inspired by her songs and her life. Raj Begum’s life is symbolic of Kashmir’s artistic spirit. Her story was not just about music but about breaking barriers and believing in yourself. By centering the film on her struggles, we aimed to honor an entire generation of Kashmiri women who have paved the way for creative freedom.
Greater Kashmir: The film highlights music, but many local viewers expected it to also portray the political or conflict-laden history of that era. How do you respond to this feedback?
Shafat Qazi: That’s a fair expectation and I respect that. Our goal was different. Songs of Paradise is not a political film; it’s a human story about an ordinary woman and her artistic aspirations. These stories are inspirational to our future generation and critical for our cultural preservation and our identity.
Greater Kashmir: How did you approach balancing artistic storytelling with the responsibility of representing Kashmiri culture and history?
Shafat Qazi: We approached it with deep respect. Every visual, costume, and musical note was carefully researched to stay as authentic as possible. At the same time, we ensured the narrative remained emotionally accessible to a global audience. Our goal was not just to showcase our culture, but to make us all feel proud of it.
Greater Kashmir: What were the biggest challenges you faced while making a film rooted in Kashmiri identity?
Shafat Qazi: Finding the right balance between fiction and realism. About logistics, there were many challenges. The availability of the right equipment, shooting in Kashmir, working around the weather and limited local resources, all that while maintaining international production standards, were immense.
‘Language and Representation’
Greater Kashmir: Kashmir has rich cinematic potential but limited local output. Why was Songs of Paradise not made in the Kashmiri language, especially considering the global success of regional cinema like Iranian films?
Shafat Qazi: That was a conscious decision. To reach a global audience, we had to make the film in a language accessible to a broader viewership. The intent was to open a global window into Kashmiri culture. The Kashmiri dialogues and songs have already raised awareness and curiosity about our language worldwide.
Greater Kashmir: Do you believe films in native languages can reach global audiences without compromising authenticity?
Shafat Qazi: Absolutely! Language is never a barrier, it’s a bridge. Global success depends on powerful storytelling that resonates across the world. A Kashmiri film with honesty and cinematic excellence can travel anywhere and win global awards. The world is ready to watch.
Greater Kashmir: How do you see your film contributing to the preservation or revival of Kashmiri cultural identity, especially its music?
Shafat Qazi: Songs of Paradise is both a tribute and a reminder, that Kashmir’s cultural identity is rich, layered, and worth preserving. I hope the film sparks renewed appreciation for our traditional music, language, and artistry. In fact, the impact is already visible in our kids who are performing to these songs and proudly wearing their Kashmiri pherans to their school events.
‘Future Projects and Vision’
Greater Kashmir: Are you currently working on any other film scripts or media projects involving Kashmir or the broader South Asian diaspora?
Shafat Qazi: I’m currently involved in several projects, spanning films, documentaries, and digital content that showcases Kashmiri culture, music, arts and language. Stay tuned for several exciting projects designed to bring these stories to global platforms.
Greater Kashmir: What themes or stories do you think are still untold from Kashmir that you'd like to see on screen?
Shafat Qazi: Kashmir has a rich history going back several centuries. There are many stories from Kashmir that the world will appreciate if presented professionally.
Greater Kashmir: Would you consider collaborating with local Kashmiri filmmakers or training new talent from the region?
Shafat Qazi: I would love to! Collaboration is central to success of such projects. I want to empower local filmmakers, musicians, and writers with the tools, technology, mentorship, and exposure they deserve. Talent from Kashmir has the potential to shine globally, it just needs the support of right people and platforms.
Greater Kashmir: Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for combining entrepreneurship with storytelling, particularly stories from underrepresented communities like Kashmir?
Shafat Qazi: My vision is to merge innovation with technology and use films and media as instruments for cultural awareness and preservation. Entrepreneurship has taught me discipline, financial modeling and scalability; storytelling adds soul to that. Together, they can amplify the voices of underrepresented communities and ensure that stories like those from Kashmir don’t just survive, they thrive globally.
