Haider a story of human conflict: Vishal Bhardwaj

Film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj interacting with students of the L.V. Prasad Film and Television Academy in the city on Saturday.—photo: S.R. Praveen

The increasing number of attacks on cinemas should be brought to the notice of the Information and Broadcasting Minister and the Censor Board, film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj has said.

He was speaking at a certificate distribution ceremony as part of the first weekend film-making course at the L.V. Prasad Film and Television Academy here on Saturday.

He defined his latest film

Haider , a re-telling of

Hamlet set in the background of the Kashmir issue, as a story of human conflict rather than on the Kashmir violence. He said that he did not have any intention to make a film on Kashmir, but a particular incident in his personal life and Bashrat Peer’s book

Curfewed Night opened his eyes to the terrors at the border, which inspired him to make the film. The climax was changed considering the sensitive nature of the issue, he said. Three short films made by graduates of the academy —

Prathibimbam, Ardhaviramam, and

Madakkam — were screened.

Haider was screened earlier.