New-gen filmmakers

There are signs of a new wave of filmmakers in Pakistan’s burgeoning film industry. They are not bound by traditional themes in their storylines and their work is relatively more raw and urgent. Nehr Ghar and Laal Kabootar are a product of this new generation of passionate filmmakers who are driven by a keen seen of frustration - in planning the best way to deliver their concepts and with the very systems that allow these concepts to be shared.

The Chima siblings; Kamil and Hania set up Nehr Ghar after returning from Harvard and have big plans for Pakistan’s entertainment industry. Instep speaks to them to shed light on how the next generation approaches filmmaking in Pakistan.

“When we came back we were certain we wanted to work together and wanted to do something of our own.” While Kamil and Hania are Lahore based, they met Kamal Khan in Karachi who is now the director of their film and decided to set their first film in the city. “We’re all young and new so we were on the same wavelength about wanting to do something new and different,” Kamil shares.

Hania adds that she’s had prior experience on films and dramas including being on the sets of Lunchbox and acting in Bol which gave her a good idea of the environment and professionalism on both sets. “It made me realize I wanted some control behind the camera because actors don’t have much of that. I liked the decision making and creative control aspect of the shoot more.”

One of the things they’d like to change about shooting locally are the number of hours film crews keep working on sets. “We do 12-hour shifts and we wouldn’t go over that – which sounds extreme also but people are used to even longer working hours.” She explains, “In Pakistan the people making films are the ones who make ads which is a three-minute product so people work for 24 to 36 hours at a stretch. Because films are such a recent entrant into the market what it does is that they try to apply the same to films and that takes a toll on the crew.

Laal Kabootar, their first film, is an action-thriller that will mark the directorial debut of Kamal Khan, who is known for directing music videos like Zoe Viccaji’s ‘Azaad’ for which he won a Lux Style Award.

Kamal is also known for music videos like The D/A Method’s ‘Desert Journey’ and Zohaib Kazi’s ‘Wake Up/Jaago’. Kamal also spent several years working on Coke Studio under Rohail Hyatt’s tenure. He went on to pursue a degree abroad after moving on from Coke Studio and is considered one of the finest directors working today.

The producers share that the idea for the film started off with two characters which developed in Karachi and started evolving there. “We learnt so much from this film that with our next one we want to do something completely different – romantic movie or a drama. It’s different but allows for the same amount of learning so one doesn’t get used to a certain kind of genre out of habit. I think with that in mind every new project should be something we haven’t done before – that isn’t the down trodden path isn’t robotic or trite,” concludes Kamil.