ONE OF A KIND

entertainment

Our films are mostly male-centric but a recently released film ‘Wakhri’ revolves around a strong female character. Inspired by the life of late Qandeel Baloch (a social media sensation), ‘Wakhri’ was first shown at the recently held Red Sea Festival, Jeddah. The film tells the story of a single mother Noor (played by Faryal Mehmood) who is a school teacher and becomes a social media sensation overnight in order to collect funds for a girls’ school. You! got an opportunity to talk to Faryal Mehmood; Iram Parveen Bilal, (writer and director); Abid Aziz Merchant and Apoorva Bakshi (producers) who share their thoughts with our readers. Read on...

According to Faryal Mehmood, the character of Noor is very real and relatable to any middle-class woman, whether she is a working woman or a house maker, a mother, married or unmarried. “Any middle-class woman would relate to Noor, how she thinks, how she feels, and how the society around her reacts to it,” elucidates Faryal.

She is enthusiastic about the film as it is the first time in the film history of Pakistan where a woman is playing a drag queen. “This kind of character has never been presented in any Pakistani drama, film or web series in which a woman is dressed like a drag and people perceive her as a man,” notifies Faryal.

Iram Parveen Bilal, writer and director of ‘Wakhri’, while explaining why the film is inspired by the life of Qandeel Baloch, says, “Well-behaved women seldom make history. She was that quote personified. She was brave and unapologetic. You didn’t have to agree with her at all times, but you couldn’t take your eyes and ears off of her. She had the spark to shake the system. Most people only learned about her life two weeks before she was killed, and not being able to forget about her made me pay attention to what it was about her that was so personal to her.”

Iram is also hopeful that the film would help in raising the voice for women empowerment. “It is a story that celebrates misfits. ‘Wakhri’ is for all those who are hiding in the corridors; she is screaming at the top of her voice, to speak up, to let go and to be free,” expresses Iram who is a Los-Angeles-based, Pakistani-born writer-director.

“Iram and I had been working on this since 2017. In the development process, it was selected in Open Doors at Locarno Film Festival in 2018, and in 2019, Cannes Film Festival took it. It also got a small grant there. In 2022, it was selected for the Asian project market at Busan Film Festival. We actually started its shoot at the end of 2022 and completed with post production in August 2023,” elaborates Abid Aziz Merchant, the producer of ‘Wakhri’.

“It is not a biography of Qandeel Baloch but a tribute to the social media star. It is a fiction film which addresses all women and men who are somehow misfits and struggle to be accepted by the society. They are rejected because of their vocal stand and the conservative mind-sets of our society,” he adds.

For Apoorva Bakshi, producer of ‘Wakhri’, the irreverent spirit of Qandeel Baloch triggered her to make this film. “Though it is a fictional story inspired by Qandeel’s story, it is not limited to her fight; it is also a study to track the correlation between hate crimes and social media wildfires.

This film is an ode to all those women in the shadows who were inspired by her bravery. We wish to blow wind beneath the wings of all the women who want to be seen and heard.”

“The film’s global resonance and recognition underscore its exceptional storytelling, casting a spotlight on the prowess of Pakistani cinema and music.

This achievement not only honours Pakistani filmmakers but also signifies a noteworthy milestone, affirming the nation’s rich contributions to the diverse landscape of global cinema,” comments Aproova.

*The film is being shown in cinemas all over Pakistan.