Srinagar, Oct. 31 -- Long before cameras rolled, stories were told by firelight, passed from one voice to another. Then cinema was born, and the same old magic moved to a new stage: the screen.

From early black-and-white films to today's virtual experiences, cinema has been harnessed as a tool for storytelling, one that shapes perception, reinforces or challenges prejudices, asserts cultural supremacy, and wages ideological wars.

Ultimately, every story forges its heroes, and in doing so, it must also create its villains.

Before the late 80's disruptions, Kashmir was the beating heart of the Indian film industry, a muse woven into the very fabric of Bollywood's dreams. Online movie streaming services

For decades, its snow-capped peak...