From the first look of the of the ‘Chennai Express’ song ‘Kashmir Main…Tu Kanyakumari’, I was desperately waiting for the movie to release. The reason might be ‘unconditional love of a Kashmiri towards Kashmir’.  I was just wandering what the lyricist and the celebrated actors wanted to exchange with this goofy number.

During shooting of ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ in Phalgham, Shah Rukh khan tweeted, “Leaving Pahalgam. Learnt life’s lesson in my forefathers land. Only beauty is not enuff, u gotta be tough too to survive. I will be, Insha Allah.”  Hence, having the feeling of having Kashmir touch in the song was warranted. North-Indian Shah Rukh declared him as ‘Kashmir’ while Deepika portrayed ‘Kanyakumari’ being South-Indian. Not following the rumors I could conclude that the number might mean the unity of India from North to the South, but what about east and west?

Actually, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s new song Kashmir main tu Kanyakumari from Chennai Express is not exactly the kind of number that amazes anyone. Though I watched movie just because of this song and its relevance but what caught my attention is the wonderful hues. From the costumes to the locations – everything is so bright – not in a jarring but in mood uplifting kinda way. Deepika’s attitude, Shah Rukh’s energy with flavour of Chennai is captured in an absolute filmi-ishtyle and nothing was about Kashmir or Kanyakumari. Something was missing, may be the main ingredient! Kashmir! If Shah Rukh Khan is Kashmiri his feelings too will never be different from a common Kashmiri. I had doubts until SRK twitted, “#AzaadiExpress Dont underestimate the power of a common man.” Now, again the question what is azaadi for a Kashmiri and what is the power of a common Kashmiri. My words might sound gibberish but actually the whole movie had a point. And, I remember the V-onderful quote: ‘Idea, not the man, because a man can fail. He can be caught, he can be killed and forgotten, but 400 years later, an idea can still change the world. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of ideas, I’ve seen people kill in the name of them, and die defending them… but you cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it… ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love… ideas are bulletproof.’ Coming back to the movie and to investigate its Kashmir touch: In the movie Rahul (Shah Rukh Khan) meets an unknown woman Meenalochini Azhagu Sundaram (Deepika Padukone) aka Meenamma who was trying to flee from a forced marriage to Tangaballi (Nikitin Dheer). Her father Durgeshwara Azhagu Sundaram (Sathyaraj) is a powerful headman of the Komban village in west Tamil Nadu. He wants her to marry Tangaballi so that he would assume control of the neighboring village as well. Meena takes Rahul to her father and introduces him as her lover. Tangaballi challenges Rahul for a duel. In the beginning Rahul tries to maintain peace with the Tangaballi and Deepika’s father Durgeshwara and decides to run away but later he conquers both Tangaballi as well as Durgeshwara (Don’t underestimate the power of a common man). In the movie, three ‘K’ ruled –Kashmir, Kanyakumari and Komban. Still if you were not able to get Kashmir connection, let me show YOU. Kashmir in Chennai Express Cast: Shah Rukh Khan (common Kashmiri), Deepika Padukone (Kashmir), Tangaballi (India), Durgeshwara (UN resolution) SRK (Kashmiri) is in love with Deepika (Kashmir), Tangaballi (India) intrudes and kidnaps Deepika to force her to be its atoot ang (Integral Part). In the beginning, Durgeshwara (US Resolution) was only savior but later a common, peace loving Kashmiri fights with all his might to defend and get back the dignity from the intruder India. Was the movie a covert message for Kashmirs from an unrecognized Kashmiri? I believe so, just give them on face and don’t wait for UN resolution. Fight your enemy yourself. The movie also warns the Indian oppressors, don’t underestimate Kashmiri’s, you will soon get dust.