Farhat Sidiqi seeks schemes for artist community to save the art and culture in J&K; says artists are being ignored

Srinagar, March 12, 2022: Frahat Sidiqi needs no introduction as far as the TV and theatre in J&K is
concerned and it is said that theatre in Kashmir is incomplete without Farhat Sidiqi.

Today we bring to you another renowned artist of J&K who has carved niche for herself and
established herself firmly in the artistic community after hard struggle, passion and dedication
towards the field.

Farhat Sidiqi talks to TRN Kashmir Bureau Chief Manzoor Ahmed Mir and takes us to sojourn of her
life and struggles since she started her career in acting.

She rues that government has been totally indifferent towards artistic community of J&K and
nothing worthwhile has been announced for their upliftment of art and culture in the state
particularly the artists who are dependent on performing art to run their families.

Farhat has asked the Lieutenant Governor to come to the rescue of the artist community by
announcing some new schemes so that they can earn their livelihood and more youngsters are
attracted towards the profession to save the art, culture and languages of the state.

Speaking about her journey Farhat says that developed a liking for acting from a very small age. Here
is her account in first person. “I used to see renowned TV artists performing on television even
though I did not know them but I got attracted towards the medium.

My first drama on stage was ‘Chatji Zi Patji’ directed by Ashok Kogji. From there I was spotted by
some producers of Doordarshan and was offered role in a TV serial “Tika Lal” in the year 1991. It was
a time when nobody would dare to go to TV or theatre due to turmoil in the valley and the
additional threat was that I used to live in Down Town area which was a total taboo for such
activities. However, I dared and went to Doordarshan at a time when no girl would think of breaking
the ban and work for TV.

I developed a passion for TV and theatre and did a lot of theatre even though I was very young but
still they offered me roles of older girls because there were not enough girls from Kashmir coming
forward for acting.

I started early in life and it was in my school at Nava Kadal where our music teacher Kusum Dhar
who is a renowned artist now used to teach us dance and drama. It was from this school that I
started participating in school dance and drama shows.

“Vutra Buniyul” was my first theatre play for which I got best actor award. There was a time when I
used to do four shows in a day and I was participating in a drama festal named Badshah Festival but
my busy schedule and dedication prompted the renowned Ved Rahi ji saying that the festival should
be renamed Farhat Festival instead of Badshah Festival and luckily, I and was given best actor award
during the festival.

There were numerous hurdles for an artist in Kashmir particularly during peak of militancy but when
an artist knows he is sincere and you have the added responsibility of running a household then you
have no choice but to dare to swim against the tide.

I did theatre and TV in Urdu, Kashmiri with equal ease but most of times my shows were in my
mother tongue Kashmiri.”

Talking about mother tongue Farhat called upon all the Kashmiris to inculcate a habit of talking in
mother tongue at home and encourage the new generation to talk in their mother tongue and
preserve this rich culture of Kashmir.

According to Farhat her role in “Dag Rozi Lalwin” directed by Manzoor Mir was a memorable role for
me.

She has her own drama club and has almost fifteen members working with her. She says that she
pays her artists as an when she gets some remunerations after shows but adds that government has
done nothing concrete for artist community and says whenever they approach any official seeking
some schemes, they clearly refused saying there was no schemes for artists.
She further adds that they have approached LG many times but the government does not seem
eager to resolve the problems of artists in J&K.

She demanded that the government must announce some schemes for artist community if at all
government wants to keep cultural activities alive in J&K.

For full interview please watch the episode TheRightConnect with the Right Person featuring
renowned artist of J&K Farhat Sidiqi in conversation with Manzoor Ahmed Mir