With Mah-e-Meer in limbo, Anjum Shahzad gears up for next

Filming for romantic drama to be completed before ‘Band Toh Ab Bajay Ga’

KARACHI:

They say at times a few steps backward is the only way forward. Perhaps this is exactly what Anjum Shahzad had in mind when he decided to move on from his directorial debut Mah-e-Meer, still in development limbo due to post-production speed bumps, and test his luck with additional cinematic ventures.

With actor Fahad Mustafa’s home production Band Toh Ab Bajay Ga already in the pipeline, Shahzad is in no mood to let go of the director’s chair and has commenced work on his next film. The romantic drama will star TV actors Sajal Aly and Feroz Khan and work began sooner than anyone could speculate.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahzad said, “We have started working on the film with the first eight to 10 days of shooting already taken place.” Shahzad is game for giving opportunities to fresh faces since “the Pakistani film industry is itself progressing and needs new talent to take it forward.”

Shahzad on the sets of ‘Mah-e-Meer’

The khaas libas of Mah-e-Meer

The film, which is yet to be named, will deviate big time from the aforementioned projects. Its filming is expected to be complete before Band Toh Ab Bajay Ga, which is a “full-on comedy,” goes on the floor. “We are looking for a suitable female lead for Band Toh Ab Bajay Ga these days.”

The romantic drama is slated for an early 2016 release. Principal photography is scheduled for local locations and a brief spell in Malaysia is also on the cards. While the script has been penned by Dr Khaliq, four notable Pakistani musicians would be contributing to the movie’s soundtrack. “The soundtrack should be out by mid-December,” said Shahzad.

The veer with Meer

Elaborating on the delay in the much-anticipated Mah-e-Meer’s release, Shahzad said the movie requires some basic visual effects that have turned the calendar upside down. “The CGI should be wrapped up within the next nine to 10 days, after which, we will take the formal decision regarding the film’s release,” Shahzad added.

Mah-e-Meer release date in a bout of doubt

Questions were already being asked as the projected release date of November 6 grew closer. The film is yet to be picked up by any local distribution company and the postponement may have also stemmed from the fact that the film would have faced stiff competition in shape of the latest in the James Bond franchise, Spectre, at the box office.

Answering a question, Mah-e-Meer producer Badar Ikram said, “We want to have the final product in our hands before we decide on approaching distributors for its release.”

The film is inspired by classical Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir and revolves around the life and times of a contemporary poet, drawing parallels with the master wordsmith’s own life. The film features an ensemble cast including actors Fahad Mustafa, Iman Ali, Sanam Saeed, Manzar Sehbai and Alyy Khan. Sehbai is also the writer of the film.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2015.

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