For the first time in 15 years, people of insurgency-hit Jammu and Kashmir are lapping up the melodrama, candyfloss and tomato ketchup violence of films.

The information and broadcasting ministry's ongoing film festival in the Kashmir valley is bringing people out in droves, never mind security fears.

Some 12,000 people have flocked to the theatres since the festival began Nov 19, with the screening of the epic "Mughal-e-Azam" in its new colour version.

The film was requisitioned with special efforts since distribution rights for the Kashmir Valley were yet to be sold.

The two theatres designated for the festival are running to full houses with three screenings each day, say ministry officials.

A dozen Hindi films, one Kashmiri, two Bengali, one English and six Iranian films are being screened in the nine-day festival organised jointly by the central and state governments.

Officials said the films, quite a few from the National Film Archives of India, were selected with the theme or the backdrop of Kashmir, while Iranian films were chosen considering the taste of the local people.

Some of the films screened are: "Kashmir Ki Kali", "Chandni", "Kashmir", "Baharon Ke Sapne", "Professor", "Mere Mehboob", "Dil Chhahata Hai", "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa", "Mitr My Friend (English)", "Bub" (Kashmiri), "Sara Iran" (Iran) and "Where is my Friend's Home" (Iran).