Amidst the rom-com and jingoistic overdose that has taken over Pakistani cinema, there are young filmmakers backed by producers willing to experiment and introduce new genres to the Pakistani film landscape.
One such cinematic adventure is an upcoming film called Laal Kabootar, produced by Nehr Ghar Films and directed by Kamal Khan.
Nehr Ghar is co-founded by Hania and Kamil Chima and Laal Kabootar is their first film. Noted the press release: “After returning from Harvard, the brother-sister duo founded the film company with a view to add their unique flavour to the business of story-telling in Pakistan. Laal Kabootar is the siblings’ first foray into the world of cinema, one they hope to make with a bang in 2019! The introduction of this pair marks the entry of the next generation of film-makers into Pakistan’s growing cinema landscape.”
Perhaps the most exciting part is that the film is being directed by Kamal Khan. Having spent several seasons on the Coke Studio visual team as well as his experience with MTV Pakistan, Kamal is responsible for some of the most exciting storytelling that has been prevalent in his music videos in recent years, such as ‘The Desert Journey’ (for The D/A Method), ‘Ho Jao Azaad’ (for Zoe Viccaji), ‘Wake Up/Jaago’ (for Zohaib Kazi) and most recently ‘Mil Gaya’ for Strings from their newest record, 30.
His work thus far has been compelling; his treatment unique, almost bordering on both elements of obscurity and compassion. His passion to make films, most of all, is pure.
Though Kamal Khan could not speak much about the film just yet, he told Instep that Laal Kabootar is a “Karachi-based crime drama” before adding that is “it’s new and similar to my genre and treatment, akin to ‘The Desert Journey’.”
He added further: “I was lucky to find these producers,” who form Nehr Ghar Films. Busy working on this screenplay for almost two years, Kamal Khan, an LSA winning music director, hopes to not only introduce his style of storytelling to the audience but gauge the barometer of the audience. Given that so far the Pakistani audience, barring some exceptions, has been provided with a certain kind of cinema, an electrifying film, which is courage, different and provoking is exactly what we need. Laal Kabootar is scheduled to release in 2019.
