The film is based on the love story of Hindu Kashmiris in the backdrop of the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from Kashmir. The book Our Moon Has Blood Clots by Rahul Pandita has inspired many parts of the movie.
In March 2018, it was reported that a film was shot under the title "Love and Letters" in Kashmir by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. In an interview later, he mentioned that almost entirely film was shot in Kashmir. Initially in Summer, then in autumn and again in Winter. Only refugee camps were recreated in Mumbai and some sequences in Agra, but this part of story is brief. Shots in Kashmir included several places such as the Lalit Hotel in Srinagar, on shikaras in the middle of a lake, on the backwaters of the Dal, in a desolate Hindu house, near Hazratbal and many more. Some scenes were reported to be shot in Wandhama near Ganderbal, where one of the biggest massacre in the Valley, 23 Kashmiri Hindus — four children, nine women and ten men were massacred in 1998.
Casting
Lead characters of Kashmiri birth, Aadil Khan and Sadia were cast to lend authenticity. Several Kashmiri Pandits were selected for principal cast. Also, to make refugee camps as similar as possible to the real ones 30 years ago, actual refugees were cast. Approximately 4,000 out of 400,000 refugees, who are currently inhabitants of Jagti Nagrota Migrant Camp and other refugee camps agreed to take part. They were women, children and older people. Refugee camp scenes were shot for several days and nights in Bhagwati Nagar,Jammu.
Marketing and release
On 7 January 2020 official trailer of the film was launched by Fox Star Studios. On 27 January 2020, second official trailer of the film was launched by Fox Star Studios. A. R. Rahman played the theme of Shikara live in the launch event. On 14 January 2020, A 'behind the scenes' video released shows 4000 refugee coming together after 30 years to take part in the production of refugee camp scenes. Names of few refugees, home town before fleeing and their experiences are shown in video. The film was released on 7 February 2020. It was released digitally on April 4, 2020 on Amazon Prime Video in India. This film was criticized and even boycotted by some people for focusing on the "romantic love story" rather than the forced exodus of Kashmiri Hindus.
Reception
Critical response
The Times of India gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars, and called it largely a one-sided story which does cater to the cinematic appeal of certain movie-goers. Jyoti Kanyal of India Today also gives the movie 3 out of 5 stars and writes that the story "beautifully combines real incidents and a fictional love story". Both TOI and India Today praise debutantes Sadia and Aadil Khan. Newslaundry reviews the film as a successful love story but a failed political drama. The Hindu gives a more critical review, saying that "Chopra buries politics under the garb of ‘love and hope’" and ends up making the movie simplistic. Livemint also comments on the 'simplification of politics behind the exodus' in the movie. Nandini Ramnath of Scroll.in also writes a similar review, weak in history, strong in love. Firstpost also gave the movie 3 out of 5 stars.
Shikara earned 1.20 crore at the domestic box office on its opening day. On the second day, the film collected ₹1.85 crore. On the third day, the film collected ₹1.90 crore, taking total opening weekend collection to ₹4.95 crore. The lifetime collection of the film in net gross India was ₹8.15 crore.
