Srinagar, Sep 7 (KNS): Bollywood actor Fatima Sana Sheikh on Monday said cultural events such as the international film festival in Jammu and Kashmir can encourage local youth by providing them a platform to showcase their talent and interact with people from outside the region.

Speaking about the importance of such events for the youth as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS), Fatima said the presence of artists and participants from outside Jammu and Kashmir sends an important message that there is a platform in the region where local talent is valued and respected.

“I think it is very important here. Any cultural event like this gives a lot of encouragement to youth that people are coming from outside. There is a platform here and so much respect is being given,” she said.

She urged young people in Kashmir to focus on education and actively participate in cultural activities, saying she feels proud when someone from the region moves forward.

“I just want all the youth here to move forward.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelStudy, go to cultural activities and increase your voice,” Sheikh said.

The actor said cinema, music and poetry can help present Kashmir from a local perspective, rather than allowing its identity to be defined solely by narratives coming from outside.

“Because the stories that we see of Kashmir are seen from an outside perspective. Regional cinema shows the intricacies there,” she said.

Sheikh said it was important for people unfamiliar with the region to understand Kashmir through the eyes of its own people.

“For a layman who is not from that world, not from the city or not from the state, it is very important to see the world from a local perspective,” she said.

“We are not just the news that is shown. We are a lot more than that,” Sheikh said, adding that music, cinema and poetry could play an important role in conveying the region’s wider cultural identity. (KNS)