Acclaimed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has had a long-standing fascination with Kashmir, a land of breathtaking beauty and resilient spirit. From his first visit in 1984 to film the critically acclaimed 'Khamosh', to his recent web series 'Tanaav', which has captivated audiences with its gripping portrayal of life in the valley, Mishra's connection with Kashmir runs deep.

In this exclusive conversation with Mathrubhumi English, Mishra reminisces about his experiences in Kashmir, sharing stories of the warmest people he's encountered and the indelible mark the land has left on his heart and craft.

When ‘Tanaav,’ a Hindi remake of an Israeli series ‘Fauda,’ was in the making, it gave Mishra a chance to go back to Jammu & Kashmir and film.

Mishra first visited Kashmir in 1984 when he was assisting Vidhu Vinod Chopra on the sets of ‘Khamosh’. The film starred ace actors such as Amol Palekar, Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Pankaj Kapur, Soni Razdan, and others. But it was with ‘Tanaav’ that he “understood Kashmir better”.

“We shot a lot in Kashmir, in J&K. It’s been wonderful. For me, the most interesting and gratifying thing was that when we went to shoot the second season (of ‘Tanaav’), everybody in Kashmir had already watched the first season. They all seemed to have liked it a lot. We received a welcome. There was a warmth in the meeting. That’s all you can hope for in life. You want to connect with people,” said the director-writer.

When asked if he saw any significant changes in Kashmir over a period of time, Mishra said, “For me, I have understood Kashmir better when I made this series. I have understood the people of Kashmir and grown to like them a lot during the process. Kashmiris (at least 90-95% of them) are among the warmest people you would find in the world. They’re proud, they are self-respecting, and they have a view. They are mountain people with a great heart.”

Adding more about the changes he has seen in Kashmir since 1984, and its people for whom he has “a very deep affection”, Mishra said, “Since then, there is some sadness in Kashmir. But, people are warm there, and I think things are in flux. It is a state which needs our understanding. We rush and form judgements; the people there want to be listened to, and I think we should listen.”