Srinagar, Oct 20: Yaqza: The Awakening, a Kashmiri feature film written and directed by Ali Emran and produced by Yaqut Mushtaq, was released in select cinemas across Kashmir on Tuesday.

Described by its makers as an experimental feature, the film explores themes of consciousness, memory, perception and spiritual awakening through a non-linear narrative and visual and sound-based storytelling.
The film departs from conventional narrative structures, relying on imagery, silence, movement, atmosphere and symbolism to convey its themes. According to its creators, the project seeks to explore how cinema can represent the subconscious and examine the relationship between the visible and invisible aspects of human experience.
Kashmir's philosophical and mystical traditions inform the film's approach, with the region serving as more than a geographical setting for its exploration of existence and inner awareness.
Yaqza is Emran's fourth feature film and his third in the Kashmiri language. His earlier works include Ibtida: The Beginning, Qouluf: The Ensorcelled and Baand, which explore themes ranging from art and existence to Kashmir's spiritual traditions and folk theatre.
The film has been produced by Yaqut Mushtaq, who has been associated with independent cinema, theatre and cultural initiatives in Kashmir. She has served as chairperson of the Experimental Moving Images and Theatre Association (XMITA) and as festival director of the International Film Festival of Kashmir (IFFK), which she helped initiate in 2006.
The filmmakers have described Yaqza as an attempt to expand the scope of Kashmiri cinema through experimental storytelling and a focus on philosophical themes.
The production team reported an encouraging response from audiences on the opening day. Viewers cited in the release praised the film's unconventional treatment, visual presentation and exploration of consciousness.
The film's theatrical release brings an experimental Kashmiri-language production to cinema screens, with its creators seeking to engage audiences through a form that places greater emphasis on perception and interpretation than on a conventional linear storyline.