(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- The INOX multiplex in Srinagar is once again witnessing housefull shows, this time for the musical romantic drama Saiyaara.

Earlier, it was superstar Shah Rukh Khan's blockbuster Pathaan in January 2023 that drew packed audiences to the theatre.

“We are witnessing a good response for the film since its release. We are running housefull till Sunday,” an official from INOX Srinagar told Kashmir Observer over the phone.

Due to the overwhelming response, five shows are being screened daily, with seven shows on weekends, according to BookMyShow.

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Viewers say it's the film's music that drew them to the cinema.

“Though the film features new faces, its music is very appealing. It compelled us to watch it,” said Shahjahan Ahmad, a Srinagar local who watched the film with his friends.

“The shows are almost all houseful. People are coming in large numbers. We're seeing such a rush for the first time since Pathaan,” he added.

The title track Saiyaara, which has gone viral on social media, has a special emotional connect with the valley, as it was composed and sung by Kashmiri artists Faheem Abdullah and Arsalan Nizami.

Directed by Mohit Suri, the film marks the Bollywood debut of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Released on July 18, 2025, the film has received positive reviews from both critics and audiences, with particular praise for the performances of Panday and Padda, Suri's direction, and the soulful soundtrack. Within just six days, the film has grossed over ₹150 crore.

With Saiyaara fever gripping Kashmir, many viewers have been seen emotionally reacting to the film, with some even making Instagram reels capturing their experience. The film is also receiving a warm reception across India.

In September 2022, after being closed for more than three decades due to militant threats and attacks, movie theatres in the valley reopened with a special screening of the Aamir Khan-starrer Laal Singh Chaddha.

Until the late 1980s, Kashmir had nearly a dozen cinema halls, but all were forced to shut down due to militant threats.

Kashmir's first multiplex, run by INOX, houses three theatres with a total seating capacity of 520. The property also features a food court that promotes local cuisine.

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