April 01, 2026, New Delhi: An independent documentary on the 1947 invasion of Kashmir is facing unexpected hurdles at the certification stage, raising concerns over creative freedom. Kashmir 1947, produced and directed by filmmakers Dr. Amarpreet Kour and Hemant Goswami, is an innovative historical film that recreates the emotions and lived experiences of the era using responsible AI-based visual reconstruction and archival research.
Despite completing compliance and submitting all modifications, the film remains pending clearance with the CBFC, with the filmmakers alleging repeated and unnecessary objections.
Dr. Amarpreet Kour, a Kashmiri herself, said, “This film is my tribute to the soldiers and Kashmiri’s who suffered during 1947. It is a neutral, fact-based documentary with no political agenda. Yet, the Board seems to be reading too much into it and creating avoidable obstacles.”
Delhi based, co-director Hemant Goswami was more critical, stating, “The CBFC is behaving not like a certifying authority but like an overreaching enforcer. We are being sent on a repeated ‘wild goose chase’ with demands that have no legal basis. Even for 75-year-old archival material in the public domain, they insist on permissions that are not required under law. Instead of directly refusing, they just stall and create impossible tasks; putting us on a wild goose chase.”
The documentary has already won four awards and has been shortlisted at international festivals in Toronto and London for its creative use of AI, yet its release continues to be delayed. Originally planned for February 14, then March 27, the film now faces further uncertainty.
Filmmakers say the delay is not just about one film, but about creative expression being stalled at the certification stage.
Goswami mentions, We have addressed all the objections CBFC has raised, from time-to-time. We have also accepted that the film be categorised as ‘U/A’ instead of U certification; however now we have reached a roadblack after CBFC wants us to obtain NoC for an open source, copyright free photographs and wants to prevent us from using it creatively. Which is impossible. “Interestingly, this is after we have already displayed a disclosue & disclaimer at the begining and also after giving an affidavit that we would be responsible for all copyright related issues. Stuatory law provides that a photograph or film published more than 60 years is free from copyright. However it looks like that a bunch of officials thin themselfs above the constitution and all laws.” Hemant Goswami humorously adds.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
IMDB LINK FOR KASHMIR 1947
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt40559781/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
TMDB LINK FOR KASHMIR 1947
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1649576-kashmir-1947
SONGS OF KASHMIR 1947 (Available on all Platforms)
https://open.spotify.com/album/4mYeeCWyykXNIAc04NsYcY?si=zccXu6JnSMqAwW8bHLxiag
POSTERS OF KASHMIR 1947
FILM FESTIVAL AWARD LIST FOR KASHMIR 1947 TILL NOW
| Indian Independent Film Festival | Award Winner | Best Indian Documentary (40 Minutes and More) |
| Rameshwaram International Film Festival | Award Winner | Best Documentary Feature Film |
| TAMIZHAGAM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | Award Winner | BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM |
| Athvikvaruni International Film Festival | Award Winner | BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM |
| AltFF Alternative Film Festival, Canada | Nominee | Feature Films (45 minutes and over) |
| International Celebration of Cinema, London | Selected | Best Use of AI Generative Video |
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU MAY REACH OUT TO:
Hemant Goswami
E-MAIL: hemant@goswami.email
PHONE: +91-7879808000
Or
Dr. Amarpreet Kour
E-Mail: amarpreetkour@gmail.com
