Syed Noor working on a co-production with Iran

A team of Pakistani and Iranian actors have been roped in for upcoming big budget film

LAHORE:

Veteran film-maker Syed Noor has announced a big budget film is in works. According to him, the venture will mark the first-ever Pak-Iran collaboration and will be released in both places as well as selected countries around the world.

A team of Pakistani and Iranian actors have been roped in for the yet-to-be-titled project, while technicians and film experts from both states have come onboard too.

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The artist was speaking at a press conference in Lahore with Iranian actor Aagha Mahdi Naade Ali and film producer Farooq Mughal in attendance. The Pakistani consulate in Iran expressed joy over the news and offered to lend support for the production of the film. Noor mentioned his film will primarily be shot in Pakistan and Iran, with a few spells in Turkey.

“We are finalising our schedule and will begin filming soon,” the Chain Aye Na director told The Express Tribune. Local actor Saima has been cast in the lead while the film’s hero will be from Iran.

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“I have always preferred to do high quality work and I assure audiences that this will be a good quality film. It will lead to a new journey for Pak-Iran co-productions. For now, we have just started working on the music for the film. Renowned musicians from both countries are also being hired for this purpose. Our mission is to work on all sections of this first collaboration,” Noor added.

The movie will feature a blend of Pakistani and Iranian songs. “Iran is our brother country so we are starting this project with best wishes, love and positivity. My main aim is to further film relations between the two as I am the pioneer of this project.”

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Iranian cinema stakeholders’ are hopeful the project will open doors for future partnerships. “I know our local artists will learn a lot about the culture and traditions of Iran through this venture. Iran’s film industry is strong at the moment and Oscar nominations for their films are proof of this,” said Noor, stating Iran’s film industry is among the best in the world.

“With their support, I want to work towards improving our own. I really hope we are also considered to be among the top film industries in the world in no time.”

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Noor mentioned he has never supported the promotion of Bollywood content in Pakistan. “I have always discouraged Indian dramas being shown in our country. It is sad to see glimpses of Indian culture in so many of our local films and that is just sad,” he noted.

Noor revealed it is for this reason he chose to propose the idea of the project to his friends in Iran, who instantly supported it.

“My wife and I travelled to Iran to attend a film festival. We observed the industry there and spoke to people from film-related backgrounds. It was extremely sad to see that stalls from so many countries were present but we didn’t have one. We will set our stall up for sure next year,” he concluded.

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