News Analysis |
Set in the remote deserts of Balochistan, the drama movie ‘Saawan’ has been selected by the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee to contend for the “Foreign Language Film Award’ in next year’s Oscars.
The final list of nominees will be announced on 23rd January 2018 with the presentation scheduled to take place on 4th March 2018.
The film features Saleem Mairaj Saleem, Syed Karam Abbas, Arif Bahalim, Najiba Faiz and Imran Aslam in the lead roles. The other cast includes Tipu Sharif, Hafeez Ali, Sehrish Qadri, Sohail Malik, Shahid Nizami, Muhammad Abbas, Danial Yunus, Mehek Zulfiqar and Syed Muhammad Ali.
A movie directed by Farhan Alam and written and produced by Mashood Qadri depicts the story of a disabled boy by Polio and his journey of survival.
The boy after being abandoned by his father, denounced by the society and harassed by his friends, was left to die in the barren desert of Balochistan.
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The love and memories of his mother were the strengthening factors that urged him to keep giving in till his last breath.
The film features Saleem Mairaj Saleem, Syed Karam Abbas, Arif Bahalim, Najiba Faiz and Imran Aslam in the lead roles. The other cast includes Tipu Sharif, Hafeez Ali, Sehrish Qadri, Sohail Malik, Shahid Nizami, Muhammad Abbas, Danial Yunus, Mehek Zulfiqar and Syed Muhammad Ali.
The film has already bagged awards for Best Foreign Language Feature Film at the Madrid Feature Film Festival 2017 and the Best Film and Best Soundtrack at Salento International Film Festival in Italy, this month.
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The ‘Saawan’ team is taking the selection of their movie as a success and is running on high hopes to win the award too.
The committee included Jerjees Seja, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, two-time winner of Oscars, Momina Duraid, Nadeem Mandviwalla, Asim Raza, Talat Hussain, Sakina Samo, Rizwan Beyg, Muhammad Hanif and Ali Hamza.
Producer Mashood Qadri while sharing his thoughts about his film said, “Saawan carries a message of hope. The story is based on “Voyage for Survival”. A mind is mightier than might is a lesson for those who consider disability a liability. It will be an inspiration to such children to become a valuable asset to the society. Saawan promotes understanding and removes misconceptions surrounding polio vaccination that may facilitate polio eradication in Pakistan. Other sensitive topics explored in Saawan are water crisis, child trafficking and the bravery of women.”
The committee included Jerjees Seja, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, two-time winner of Oscars, Momina Duraid, Nadeem Mandviwalla, Asim Raza, Talat Hussain, Sakina Samo, Rizwan Beyg, Muhammad Hanif and Ali Hamza.
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About the film, one of the members of the committee Momina Duraid said, “Saawan had the power to speak to me, to touch my heart, make me care and believe in possibilities again.”
The committee was also of the view that in the recent past the qualities and scripts of the movies have remarkably improved, and they are happy on sending such quality movies for the contest.