Rile, Restless & Relentless

THE ACTOR WHO MADE HIS MARK IN FILMS LIKE MADRAS CAFE AND AIRLIFT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR HIS LATEST HIT FILM THE KASHMIR FILES. PRAKASH BELAWADI OPENS UP ABOUT SOME BEHIND THE SCENE MOMENTS AND EMOTIONS DURING THE SHOOT OF THIS RECENT FILM

- Namita Gupta

Actor Prakash Belawadi has made an impact in the theatre and film world with his acting prowess over the years. The actor who stumbled into acting with his debut English film Stumble, won him the Indian National Film Award for Best feature film in English. After that there was no looking back for Bangalore-based stalwart who has acted in many movies since then and won many accolades too. He is also a mentor with the founding team of BISFF (Bengaluru International Short Film Festival) since 2010. His most recent film after Airlit with Akshay Kumar was the much talked about Kashmir Files. He has been conferred with various awards like the Pratibha Bhushan by the Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Nataka Academy Award, Pride of Karnataka, Varshada Kannadiga, Helpmann Award, Australia besides many more. In between shoots for his other projects, the humble actor, director, theater, film and television personality, teacher motivational speaker at events and TEDx conferences and an activist Prakash Belawadi takes out time to speak to Provoke Magazine in a candid interview.

1. What would be justice ... for all that Kashmiris went through? This keeps coming back as a question in the movie as well.

Three steps:

Firstly, an official inquiry by a Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by Parliament, which clearly chronicles the events from 1984 to 2003 in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, makes a record of all those Kashmiri Pandits and other communities, including Kashmiri Muslims — who were, injured, driven out or deprived of their properties due to violence in the state; and clearly identifies everyone responsible for the violent acts, by commission or omission — militants, their backers, collaborators and officials at the state and Centre.

Secondly, put the accused on trial by a special court, which shall decide the nature of punishment.