After having multiple screenings at various international film festivals including the Wollongong Film Festival (2017), Jaipur International Film Festival (2018) and Rajasthan Film Festival among others, Moomal Rano had its premiere in Pakistan earlier this year at the Pakistan International Film Festival (PIFF). Quite recently, the film had a special screening at the Pakistan American Cultural Centre (PACC), Karachi, which was organised by the film’s director, Siraj ul Haque.
Moomal Rano, penned by Zafar Miraj, stars Ahsan Khan and Saba Qamar in lead roles. Speaking about his experience on working with Ahsan Khan and Saba Qamar, Siraj ul Haque shared, “Both are wonderful actors and they fit well into their characters. I saw Romeo and Juliet in them. Ahsan knew how to carry the character effortlessly and so did Saba.”
Initially, the film was titled Mohabbat Ki Aakhri Kahani and was made under ‘Zeal for Unity’ project initiated by Zee Network a few years ago. The director further went on to say that Saba Qamar’s Bollywood debut, Hindi Medium and Moomal Rano were made by the same team and that his film was made before Hindi Medium.
Based on the popular Sindhi and Rajasthani folklores, Moomal Rano follows the story of Jamal and Nigar, modern day Romeo and Juliet, who have grown up listening to folk tales. Jamal and Nigar ultimately fall in love and when they take the decision of being together, their decision is not accepted and they eventually face a tragic end as they are killed in the name of honour. It is a multifaceted story that not only highlights the beauty of love, but also focuses on the age-old custom of honour killing (karo kari) which is a pressing issue on both sides of the border.
“Moomal Rano is a love story with a blend of folktale and a modern, contemporary touch. It has both Sindhi and Urdu songs,” shared Siraj ul Haque in an earlier interview with Instep. The music has been composed by Qasim Azhar with lyrics from Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s Sufi kalaam and OST lyrics by Uzma Iftikhar.
Apart from Saba and Ahsan, the film also features Hussain Qadri, Asad Qureshi, Salman Saeed and Zainab Jameel.
