Tagore Hall, Srinagar, November 14:
The Kashmiri film “Batt Koch – Longing for Home” received an overwhelming response at the International Film Festival of Srinagar today, with a packed auditorium rising in a long standing ovation. The film, directed by Siddarth Koul and Ankit Wali, moved the audience with its honesty, emotional depth, and authentic portrayal of a Kashmiri Pandit family’s longing to return to their ancestral home.
A Story Told With Sensitivity
“Batt Koch” presents an intimate narrative of displacement without exaggeration or dramatic excess. The film follows a family now living in Jammu, deeply connected to the memories of the Srinagar they left behind. Told with restraint and emotional clarity, it highlights longing, loss, and the unforgettable bond with one’s homeland.
Powerful Performances
The cast delivers convincing and heartfelt performances that anchor the film in truth and lived experience.
Primary Cast:
MK Raina, Kusum Dhar, Anil Koul Chingari, Kusum Tickoo, Sakshi Bhat, Ravin Bhat
Secondary Cast:
Delip Pandita, Ashraf Fayaz, Gulzar Dar, Mehwish Lone, Uzair Itoo, Vashisht Mattoo, Sudanshu Koul
Each actor brings authenticity to the film, making its emotional impact both personal and universal.
A Cohesive Cinematic Effort
All departments have contributed with exceptional sincerity:
• Director: Siddarth Koul & Ankit Wali
• Producer: Vinayak Razdan
• Writer: Siddarth Koul
• Ideation & Creatives: Ankit Wali
• Cinematography (DOP): Anant Jain
• Editor & Production Designer: Akanksha Zadoo
• Music Director: Saurabh Zadoo
(Music recorded at Harmony India Studio, Delhi)
The visuals, editing, production design, performances, and music blend seamlessly to create a film that feels rooted, real, and emotionally resonant.
A Step Forward for Kashmiri Cinema
In recent years, Kashmiri-language films were not being accepted by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), despite having been certified in earlier decades. This created a major roadblock for Kashmiri filmmakers.
Thanks to the efforts of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw , Chander Mohan Sharma ,Vinayak Razdan, and Mushtaq Bala (Chairman, Kashmir Film Society), Kashmiri has now been reinstated within the CBFC framework, allowing Kashmiri films to receive certification once again.
“Batt Koch” arrives at this moment as an important cultural work, reaffirming the power of Kashmiri language on screen.
DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT
We made Batt Koch in the Kashmiri language because we believe our stories deserve to be told in our own voice. Kashmir has a rich culture, a deep history, and a beautiful language, but very few films are made in Kashmiri today.
Through this film, we wanted to bring attention back to Kashmiri cinema — to show that our language can carry powerful stories that connect with people everywhere.
We hope Batt Koch becomes a small step towards a larger movement, where more filmmakers are inspired to create cinema in Kashmiri, and where our language is recognized across India and the world.
We would be humbled to share Batt Koch with an audience that values such deeply personal narratives.
Let Kashmiri films be seen. Let our voices be heard.
~ Kashmir Pen
“Batt Koch – Longing for Home is a heartfelt reminder of how displacement reshapes identity and memory. Its strength lies in its honesty—told without exaggeration, the film captures the deep ache of longing with sincerity and emotional clarity.
At a time when Kashmiri-language cinema is reclaiming its space after years of institutional hurdles, Batt Koch emerges as an important cultural milestone. The filmmakers, cast, and technical team work in seamless harmony to present a story that feels real, rooted, and profoundly human.
This film marks a promising moment for Kashmiri cinema. It shows that our language and our stories are not only worthy of the screen but have the power to move audiences deeply.
A simple, truthful film — and an essential step forward for Kashmiri storytelling.”
Film Maker and Editor, Kashmir Pen ( Mushtaq Bala)
