On the world’s stage: ‘Mah-e-Mir’ for Oscars

Anjum Shahzad directorial selected as Pakistan’s official submission for Academy Awards

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Academy Selection Committee has shortlisted Mah-e-Mir as the nation’s official submission for consideration in the Best Foreign Language Film Award category at the 89th Academy Awards.

Although the film failed to fare well at the local box office, it won critical acclaim for not being a run-of-the-mill Pakistani venture, stated a press release.

The Anjum Shahzad directorial was shortlisted through secret balloting by committee members including Iram Parveen Bilal, Zeba Bakhtiar, Adnan Siddiqui, Hasan Zaidi, Sheema Kermani, Sarmad Khoosat, Jamshed Mahmood Raza, Jamil Dehlavi and Adnan Sarwar. The committee was chaired by two-time Academy Award winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

“I am thrilled by the news. For an ensemble of extremely creative cast and crew, this film is a labour of love. Each one of us is proud to be a part of it,” Shahzad said in a statement. “I would like to thank the committee for considering our effort worthy of representation and would like to take this opportunity to thank the media, cinema owners and above all, the audiences for supporting us.”

Singing praises for the film, Manto director Sarmad Khoosat shared, “Mah-e-Mir is tedious and dark and these aren’t bad qualities to have.”

The film comprises a star-studded cast of actors Iman Ali, Fahad Mustafa, Sanam Saeed, Alyy Khan and Manzar Sehbai. Written by Sarmad Sehbai, Mah-e-Mir is set in contemporary times. When asked which scene captured his interest the most, Siddiqui said, “When Manzar Sehbai Sahib’s character comes to meet the poet (Fahad), and he talks about his understanding of literature, Urdu literature in particular, that was the crux, the heart and soul of the movie for me.”

Shehzad’s directorial chronicles the life of a young anarchist poet who experiences the suffering that accompanies love, separation and poverty while denouncing tradition. Driven to madness, he discovers celebrated 18th century Urdu poet Mir Taqi Mir. Shedding light on the storyline of the film, film-maker Jamshed Mahmood Raza, colloquially known as Jami, added, “After a long time, I can say I’ve seen one of the best looking films out of Pakistan’s cinema.”

In 2013, the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee selected Zinda Bhaag as the first Pakistani film in over fifty years to be submitted for Oscar consideration in the Foreign Language Film Award category, followed by Dukhtar in 2014 and Moor in 2015. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will choose the final nominees for all award categories in January 2016.

Speaking about the selection of Mah-e-Mir, the committee’s charge d’affaires Bilal said, “After decades of neglect, it is a matter of great pride that the Pakistani film industry has achieved so much in such a brief time. It speaks volumes for the inherent artistic talent of our people.” She added, “I wish the makers of Mah-e-Mir the best of luck in their journey through the shortlisting process and thank them for their contribution to Pakistani cinema.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2016.

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