It was exciting enough when Marvel Comics introduced the first Muslim superhero (that too of Pakistani descent) to the Marvel Universe but things got better still with news that Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy would be co-directing the show for Disney + with Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah and Meera Menon. This information was on the circuit for quite some time but was officially announced by Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, earlier this week. Nimra Bucha, already having a great year with the success of Churails, was also announced as part of the cast.

Ms. Marvel focuses on the character of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), a Pakistani-American teen based in New Jersey.

“It’s Official!” shared Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy on Instagram. “This has been many months in the making…Proud to be part of the team that brings to life Marvel’s newest superhero & one which will resonate with many young people around the world as they see a reflection of themselves in Ms. Marvel! Let the Magic begin….,” she further added.

Created by editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie, Kamala Khan is Marvel’s first Muslim character to headline her own comic book. Khan made her first appearance in Captain Marvel #14 (August 2013) before going on to star in the solo series Ms. Marvel, which debuted in February 2014. The series will be the beginning of a much larger role that Kamala Khan is destined to play in the Marvel Universe.

Zindagi Tamasha selected as Pakistan’s submission to the Oscars

Expected to release as Pakistan’s first film in 2020, Zindagi Tamasha still faces an uncertain future as far as a cinematic release in Pakistan is concerned. It did, however, win big at the Busan Film Festival in 2019, where it picked up the prestigious Kim Ji-seok award. It was also recently screened at MISAFF (Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival) where it won three awards including Best International Feature, the Sabeen Mahmud Award for courage in cinema and Best Ensemble Performance.

“Zindagi Tamasha brought forward a nuanced and intricate part of the Muslim experience,” wrote Melanie Hadley, jury member MISAFF and Program Director Warner Media, Canada. “Rahat’s story was so specific but the feelings of being challenged by your community is something a lot of people can relate to. It was a stunning piece that will make reverberations for the perception of the Muslim community.”

Continuing to receive critical acclaim wherever it is screened, Zindagi Tamasha has been approved by Pakistan’s Academy Committee, chaired by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, as Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars.

“All the heartache that Zindagi Tamasha gave me has somehow restored my faith in the power of art too: the sheer, almost physical power of art to make life imitate it,” Sarmad responded to the news. “This announcement, for me, is a very bright light shining at the end of this dark tunnel of a year. I made this film in Pakistan and foremost, for Pakistan, for my people and the misfortune that my people have remained deprived of it weighs quite heavy on my artistic conscience. Some pride is slowly kicking in though, and no matter how far we go with this official selection, Zindagi Tamasha will be representing all of us – our Pakistan. I feel honored on behalf of my entire team and I am extremely grateful to the committee for finding it worthy enough.”

There is, however, some confusion regarding its eligibility as Zindagi Tamasha has not been officially screened or seen in cinemas or online. According to current rules, a film needs to be made available for public viewing anywhere in the world, including the native country and/or online. The rules had been relaxed because of the pandemic but Zindagi Tamasha still isn’t up for public viewing and needs to be available for a week before December 31.

“We’ve worked on how to meet the relaxed criteria and are looking at options,” Sarmad Khoosat spoke to Instep.