There are no stadiums in Leh city, but on Saturday the Sindhu Sanskriti Kendra turned into one when superstar Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan screened at the venue, making it possibly one of the rare film festival screenings where the audience was hooting, cheering, whistling and, at one point, grooving. Jawan was screened at the ongoing second edition of The Himalayan Film Festival in Leh at a mighty altitude of 11,500 ft. The 380-seater auditorium was packed to a capacity of more than 80 per cent, as the audience started queueing up to watch the blockbuster even in the biting cold. The movie began with a special message recorded by Atlee for the festival attendees. The filmmaker thanked the audience for watching the film and described Jawan as a "pure Indian emotion". Atlee said, "Shah Rukh sir, Deepika mam, Nayanthara mam and everyone involved worked with their heart to make the film wonderful. Please do watch and let us know your comments on this." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Indian Express Entertainment (@ieentertainment) Jawan packed a punch with the local Ladakhi audience, who turned up in huge numbers to watch the film. The screening—which happened at an auditorium converted into a big screen cinema hall with mobile theatre company PictureTime—saw the biggest footfall of the festival on day two. The Himalayan Film Festival opened on Friday with Stenzin Tankong's Last Days of Summer, followed by Kareena Kapoor's Netflix thriller, Jaane Jaan. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Red Chillies Entertainment (@redchilliesent) Jawan, despite now running for nearly a month and having already amassed more than Rs 1000 cr worldwide, left the Leh audience charmed, some of whom came for a repeat viewing of the film. All the 'massy' moments of the film, from Shah Rukh Khan's entry, the action sequences to whistle-worthy dialogues worked with the crowd—including kids—who couldn't stop clapping and hooting on the film's special moments. The song 'Zinda Banda' also saw a few people grooving in their seats, just shy enough to start dancing in the aisle, the way some fans did in other parts of the country. Apart from Jawan and Jaane Jaan, other films that were showcased on day two include Achal Mishra's Dhuin, Spawo by director Tsering Motup Chospa. THFF promises to showcase the best of Indian cinema, offering a diverse range of films, including mainstream hits, documentaries, and shorts. Achal Mishra also held a one-day photography workshop, providing amateurs from Ladakh with insights and skills in stunning Ladakh landscapes. THFF is organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) of the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh. The festival will conclude on October 3.
