Inside the filming of Amaran: Kashmir’s beauty, security threats, and Kamal Haasan’s safety-first approach
The filming of Amaran, directed by Rajkumar Periasamy and starring Sivakarthikeyan, faced significant challenges while shooting in Kashmir.
Sivakarthikeyan on the sets of Amaran.
One of the biggest challenges for the cast and crew of Amaran was shooting in the conflict-prone region of Kashmir. Director Rajkumar Periasamy and lead actor Sivakarthikeyan recently reflected on the experience, recalling how the film’s production demanded a heightened awareness of the region’s volatile environment.
“Kashmir is a very beautiful landscape, but it’s a conflict-ridden zone. When you’re there, you can sense its history of conflict. Nature there doesn’t concern itself with human strife; it just observes and retains its beauty,” said Rajkumar, emphasizing the impact Kashmir’s landscape had on the film’s atmosphere. “In Amaran, Kashmir is more than just a location—it’s a vital character.”
Filming in Kashmir meant adapting to unpredictable conditions, from weather to sudden security risks. “We didn’t set a strict timeline,” explained Sivakarthikeyan. “Whenever conditions allowed, we shot." But there were times, especially in areas like Sophian, where the security challenges added a different layer to their work.
Colonel E. Saravana Vinod, who assisted the crew, detailed the importance of maintaining safety on set: “The local army provided security cover to the cast and crew daily." But at one point, the threat level from militant groups grew alarmingly high.
The situation reached a critical point during the G20 Summit held in Kashmir, which drew over 4.5 crore tourists to the region. “The local militant groups had openly threatened to disrupt the summit,” Colonel Vinod recalled.
This heightened threat prompted Kamal Haasan, the film’s producer, to intervene. “I received a call from Kamal sir,” Colonel Vinod recounted. “I tried to reassure him that we had full support from the army. But Kamal sir was resolute. He said, ‘I am responsible for all 120 cast and crew members. Their life and safety are my responsibility. Please pack up and come back.’”
After the G20 Summit concluded and the situation in the region stabilized, the team resumed filming.
Updated: October 26, 2024 01:10 PM IST
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