Saffron Kingdom (2024)

Saffron Kingdom explores the Kashmir conflict through a family's journey from Srinagar in the 1990s to Atlanta in 2019. The story begins with young Masrat, who witnesses the violence of insurgency during her childhood. By 2014, as an adult, Masrat's life takes a devastating turn when her husband is abducted, forcing her to flee to America with her young son, Rizwan. In Atlanta, Rizwan wrestles with the trauma of his father's disappearance, while Masrat juggles her roles as a protective mother and a university researcher documenting their past. The political upheaval in 2019, including the revocation of Kashmir's semi-autonomous status and a military siege, severs their remaining ties to family in Kashmir, deepening their sense of loss. Both Masrat and Rizwan grapple with inter-generational trauma as the scars of their homeland's conflict reverberate through their lives. As Masrat navigates these challenges, she strives to reclaim her family's narrative and find their place in a new world. This highlights the enduring struggle for identity and justice amidst personal and political turmoil.