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Zoon
Acclaimed Bollywood director Shantanu Rai is eager to begin shooting his magnum opus, Zoon, a film on the 16th century Kashmiri queen, poet and musician, Habba Khatoon. Joya, fresh from film school, joins the production team to work alongside young Kashmiri historian Rashid.
The filming progreses well; the romantic landscape unfolding in picture-postcard vistas forms an irresistible backdrop for the film—as well as for Joya and Rashid to fall in love. But this is Kashmir at the onset of a crippling insurgency. A shocking incident of terrorism halts the shoot, and lives descend into interlocking spirals of loss and betrayal. Ten years on, Joya returns to Kashmir to complete Zoon and reach out to a lost love. She struggles in a strife-torn Valley, marred by curfews and barricades, despair and anger, until she finally discards Bollywood’s rose-tinted lenses in a quest to face the truth.
Will Zoon the film ever be released? A powerful mingling of real and reel, past and present, played out against the violence and volatility of Kashmir.
The filming progreses well; the romantic landscape unfolding in picture-postcard vistas forms an irresistible backdrop for the film—as well as for Joya and Rashid to fall in love. But this is Kashmir at the onset of a crippling insurgency. A shocking incident of terrorism halts the shoot, and lives descend into interlocking spirals of loss and betrayal. Ten years on, Joya returns to Kashmir to complete Zoon and reach out to a lost love. She struggles in a strife-torn Valley, marred by curfews and barricades, despair and anger, until she finally discards Bollywood’s rose-tinted lenses in a quest to face the truth.
Will Zoon the film ever be released? A powerful mingling of real and reel, past and present, played out against the violence and volatility of Kashmir.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2017
3 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 7, 2017
It is most unfortunate that I have to DNF this book. Not just because I was really looking forward to reading this book based in kashmir but also because I had received three books from this publisher few months back and I ended up DNFing two and giving a bad review for the third one. I have read quite a few books from the publisher and they have been doing a great job. These three turned out to be the ones I would dislike.
Coming to the book itself, this one was on my TBR for travel reading to Kashmir. I just wanted to learn a little more about the place especially about the literature but this book just ended up spoiling the enthusiasm. I tried picking up this book thrice but each time I was compelled to put it back down.
The book begins with Joya’s reseach about Habba Khatoon also known as ‘Zoon’. Joya, along with the research has to also look for location for the shooting of the movie. That’s where she meets the love of her life. And the story goes on of what was meant to be of an epic love. Unfortunately, it hardly feels so.
The character of Joya is extremely shallow. The events leading to a student actually doing the groundwork for a famous director seem unconvincing. Joya’s hunt for location and the descriptions of the places along with places seem extremely shallow. For someone who has been to kashmir the descriptions feel unconvincing. The male character is a stereotype.
Most of all the story is not viscous enough. It takes hours for actually something to happen in the book. It is tiring. You just wait in anticipation but nothing of consequence ever happens.
I read about one third of the book and dropped it. I also tried to pick up the book again and again but it did me no good. Kashmir is memorable while I am still trying to forget this book. This is a DNF.
Coming to the book itself, this one was on my TBR for travel reading to Kashmir. I just wanted to learn a little more about the place especially about the literature but this book just ended up spoiling the enthusiasm. I tried picking up this book thrice but each time I was compelled to put it back down.
The book begins with Joya’s reseach about Habba Khatoon also known as ‘Zoon’. Joya, along with the research has to also look for location for the shooting of the movie. That’s where she meets the love of her life. And the story goes on of what was meant to be of an epic love. Unfortunately, it hardly feels so.
The character of Joya is extremely shallow. The events leading to a student actually doing the groundwork for a famous director seem unconvincing. Joya’s hunt for location and the descriptions of the places along with places seem extremely shallow. For someone who has been to kashmir the descriptions feel unconvincing. The male character is a stereotype.
Most of all the story is not viscous enough. It takes hours for actually something to happen in the book. It is tiring. You just wait in anticipation but nothing of consequence ever happens.
I read about one third of the book and dropped it. I also tried to pick up the book again and again but it did me no good. Kashmir is memorable while I am still trying to forget this book. This is a DNF.
May 10, 2017
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Joya a fresh graduate gets an opportunity of a lifetime when she gets to be an assistant director for Sudhanshu Rai in his next big movie. Sudhanshu Rai is an independent film director who has received both commercial and critical acclaim. His dream is to make a movie on the life of Zoon popularly known as Habba Khatoon, a poet, musician and the queen of the last king of Kashmir.
Zoon is the dream project for Sudhanshu and he puts the best team for it, there is Annapurna the leading lady of hindi film industry who is desperate to give an award winning performance and thus wishes to portray the role of Zoon. An oscar winning cinematographer is taken on board to capture the intrinsic beauty of Kashmir and Joya and Rashid put their heart and soul to ensure that the movie captures the essence of 16th century Kashmir.
All is going well when suddenly an unseen catastrophe strikes the Zoon team. The magnitude of this is such that all lives change forever. Lovers are separated, dreams shattered and a fear and guilt creeps in that gnaws some for years to come.
After ten years, Joya comes back to Kashmir which has changed starkly and is simmering with violence and uncertainty. In situations such as this will Joya be able to complete the task assigned to her? Will the movie Zoon see the light of the day? Will Zoon’s story be told? Can lost lovers be reunited?
Joya a fresh graduate gets an opportunity of a lifetime when she gets to be an assistant director for Sudhanshu Rai in his next big movie. Sudhanshu Rai is an independent film director who has received both commercial and critical acclaim. His dream is to make a movie on the life of Zoon popularly known as Habba Khatoon, a poet, musician and the queen of the last king of Kashmir.
Zoon is the dream project for Sudhanshu and he puts the best team for it, there is Annapurna the leading lady of hindi film industry who is desperate to give an award winning performance and thus wishes to portray the role of Zoon. An oscar winning cinematographer is taken on board to capture the intrinsic beauty of Kashmir and Joya and Rashid put their heart and soul to ensure that the movie captures the essence of 16th century Kashmir.
All is going well when suddenly an unseen catastrophe strikes the Zoon team. The magnitude of this is such that all lives change forever. Lovers are separated, dreams shattered and a fear and guilt creeps in that gnaws some for years to come.
After ten years, Joya comes back to Kashmir which has changed starkly and is simmering with violence and uncertainty. In situations such as this will Joya be able to complete the task assigned to her? Will the movie Zoon see the light of the day? Will Zoon’s story be told? Can lost lovers be reunited?
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews