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Telugu film shot in Kashmir

Encouraged by the first Bollywood film shooting recently after nine long years on militancy, a Madras film unit yesterday began a week-long shooting of a Telugu feature film, Prenin Chanu Ninne, in Srinagar.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was instrumental in getting the unit to select Kashmir for their shooting, formally inaugurated the shooting at the famous Shalimar gardens.

Featuring Bollywood star Sridevi's cousin Maheshwari and Telugu hero Sarath, the film is being shot by Anuradha films division, set up originally by N T Rama Rao.

Maheswari, one part of a triangular love story, seemed especially fascinated, claiming there was no need to go to Switzerland or other locations outside the country when there was Kashmir.

The sequence shot yesterday was a love song involving Maheshwari and Sarath.

Coming straight from Kulu after completing the shooting of another portion, the unit was all praise for the chief minister, state government and the people of Kashmir.

Maheshwari expressed her desire to shoot in other parts of the valley. The managing director of the production unit, Tirupati Rao, said they would shoot many more films in Kashmir.

Speaking at the muhurat, Rao said his production unit had shot abroad since it felt there were better locations in India.

Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah complimented the unit for shooting in the valley and said he had asked many leading film producers and artists of the country to shoot on locations in the Kashmir valley.

Asked why he did not invite Shah Rukh Khan, a craze in Kashmir, the chief minister said, ''Don't worry, he too will come.'' He said the visit of film units to the Kashmir valley would go a long way to promote tourism and to boost the state's economy.

He assured all units interested in shooting in Kashmir the state government's full support.

The occasion was marred later, though, by the news of the killing of 25 Hindus in Doda district.

RELATED REPORT:
25 Hindus shot dead in Doda district

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