Writers in our country are still fighting for recognition: Suraj Baba

Screenwriter, director Suraj Baba strapped for cash, needs a sponsor for debut directorial ‘Adhoora’.

LAHORE: In an industry seemingly brimming with new actors, musicians, films and television plays, Suraj Baba follows a somewhat unique approach. The up and coming film-maker, screenwriter asserts that success in the Pakistani entertainment sphere cannot be attributed solely to screen faces. Instead, Suraj thinks the credit lies somewhere else.

“Whenever we produced a good film in Lollywood, it was on account of good writing by Nasir Adeeb, Pervaiz Kalim and the likes. I think it’s very unfortunate that in our country, writers are still fighting for recognition, even though without a script, there can be no film at all,” he said. “In India and other countries, people respect the writers. Here, we spend millions on films but are reluctant to pay a good amount for a good story. There is already a dearth of good writers in Pakistan. If we do not promote the ones that are there already, this ‘revival’ everyone speaks of may not be too fruitful in the long run.”



Suraj is currently awaiting the release of his debut directorial project Adhoora – a romantic, musical love triangle that also sheds light on key societal issues. The film is currently in the post-production stages. However, he strapped for cash and in need of a sponsor to put the film out there. “Adhoora is a big-budget project that has been shot in Lahore and across the northern areas of Pakistan, with advanced film technology to cater to modern demands,” he shared. “I have written the script for it myself as this will be my very first directorial venture,” adds Suraj, who has previously penned film-maker Sangeeta’s Tum Hi To Ho and actor-director Noor Bukhari’s Ishq Positive.

Aside from these, Suraj’s career as a scriptwriter also boasts of telefilms such as Saima Alone, Nanha Sa Dil, Haye Bichara Tipu, Piano Girl and Love You Qasam Se, along with plays like Kitni Girhain Baqi Hain. He has also written the lyrics for a song called Kuri Patakha, which was featured on Adnan Sami Khan’s album Press Play. But despite his credentials, luck hasn’t been on Suraj’s side ever since Adhoora was completed. However, he remains hopeful something will work out for his film. “Adhoora will be the first film from the Lahori platform to compete at an international level. I am hopeful to get some sponsors and maybe, release it during the month of August,” he said. Adhoora’s musical score has been pieced together by Ahsan Naseer and it features seasoned singers like Faraz Nayer and Sanwal Khan. The film has new faces such as Hammad Iftikhar, Suzain Khan, Muddasir Jamshaid, Momina Batool, Jalal Haider and even senior actor Laila Zubairi.

“The industry has indeed turned over a new leaf but the impression that this new generation of actors is responsible for it is rather wrong,” he said. “We still have plenty of old faces in the new films. I myself had the opportunity to cast some veteran actors in my upcoming film but it so happened that the subject and story demanded a younger feel. There was a need to promote new talent here,” he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2016.

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