Qouluf: A cinematic milestone
In an unprecedented moment for the cinematic and cultural history of Kashmir, Qouluf, the Ensorcelled has emerged as a groundbreaking achievement — not just as a film, but as a movement reclaiming identity, language, and heritage through the power of storytelling.
This landmark feature film, directed by a profound Kashmiri filmmaker Ali Emran and produced by a Mrs Yaqout Mushtaq, marks several firsts in the annals of Kashmiri cinema, each one reshaping the narrative around regional filmmaking, representation, and artistic resilience.
A Revival After Six Decades
Kashmiri cinema, long silenced by socio-political turmoil and infrastructural voids, witnesses a powerful resurgence with Qouluf, the Ensorcelled released on 4th October 2024. It is the first Kashmiri language feature film to be released in a cinema hall in Kashmir after a staggering 60-year hiatus, the last being Mainz Raat in 1964. This return to the silver screen signals not only a revival of Kashmiri-language films but also a reclaiming of public cultural space after decades of silence.
A Woman’s Vision at the Helm
This film also stands as a beacon of gender progress in Kashmiri filmmaking: it is the first-ever Kashmiri language feature film produced by a woman to be released theatrically. In a male-dominated industry, this achievement underscores a shifting tide — where women are no longer just muses or subjects, but creators and leaders shaping the region’s cinematic voice.
A Cinematic First at INOX Srinagar
Breaking another significant barrier, Qouluf, the Ensorcelled is the first Kashmiri language feature film to be screened at INOX Srinagar, one of the newly established multiplexes in the valley. This not only introduces Kashmiri audiences to local-language content in mainstream venues, but also sets a precedent for future regional filmmakers to enter the mainstream exhibition circuit.
Kashmiri Filmmaker, Kashmiri Story
Adding to its list of milestones, Qouluf, the Ensorcelled becomes the first Kashmiri language feature film by a Kashmiri director to release in a cinema hall in Kashmir. This is more than a personal achievement — it’s a cultural statement about ownership of narrative and the power of indigenous storytelling in a region often viewed through outsider lenses.
First Film on Rishism
Perhaps most uniquely, Qouluf, the Ensorcelled is the first-ever feature film to explore and dramatise the philosophy of Rishism, also known as Kashmiri Sufism — a deeply rooted spiritual tradition that blends mysticism, tolerance, and poetic wisdom. In an era of cultural homogenisation, the film reclaims the mystical soul of Kashmir and introduces younger generations to a legacy of compassion, silence, and sacred beauty.
A Landmark Beyond Borders
The impact of Qouluf, the Ensorcelled transcends the cinematic screen. It is an act of cultural resistance, a celebration of Kashmiri identity, and a spark for a long-awaited artistic renaissance in the valley. With its many historic firsts, the film is not just a debut — it is a declaration: that Kashmiri language cinema is alive, evolving, and ready to speak its truths.
