Indian film-maker feels 'Churails' pays homage to Anurag Kashyap's work

Hansal Mehta says he found Asim Abbasi's directorial 'fun, sharp and super cool'

Pakistani web series Churails hit the Indian streaming giant ZEE5 this week. The show aims to challenge the hypocrisy of patriarchal societies vanquishing women of their rights. It marks the digital debut of new-age Pakistani director Asim Abbasi, who shot to reckoning with his earlier release Cake, which was also Pakistan's official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 91st Academy Awards.

Abbasi's Churails features renowned actors like Sarwat Gilani, Mehar Bano, Yasra Rizvi and Nimra Bucha. Earlier, Bollywood film-maker Anurag Kashyap had shared that he cannot wait for it to hit the OTT platform. Taking to Twitter, he said, "I had no clue this was directed by Asim Abbasi. Adding to my watch list!"

Had no clue this was directed by @IllicitusProduc .. adding to my watchlist . His first film “Cake” was such a delight .. https://t.co/4KaEfrFuud

— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) July 31, 2020

Now, another Indian film-maker, namely Hansal Mehta has lauded Abbasi's venture. "Watched two episodes of Churails yesterday. It is a lot of fun, very commendable, sharp and super cool. What struck me was how many of the elements of the show paid homage to the work of Anurag Kashyap. He is perhaps one of this generation's most influential Indian film-makers," Mehta tweeted.

Watched 2 episodes of 'Churails' yesterday. It is a lot of fun, very commendable, sharp and super cool. What struck me was how many of the shows elements paid homage to the work of @anuragkashyap72. He is perhaps one of this generation's most influential Indian filmmakers.

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) August 13, 2020

Churails has garnered rave reviews after its release. The cast of the show, on the other hand, is ecstatic. "Churails is about having a realisation of what all you can do as a woman. It gives an understanding, insight, awareness and complete realness of life through the characters and its story,” IANS quoted Gillani as saying.

"The story is well written and fabulously directed by Asim Abbasi. He literally took our breath away with his work. It has been an amazing feeling to be part of the super revolutionary change that this project is going to bring," she added. "Churails, as a show, has a lot of calibres to catch eyeballs at the international level."

Mehar Bano also divulged the details of her character. "Playing Zubaida has been a personal milestone. She taught me the value of being a protector, the importance of sisterhood and she is, in essence, a fearless warrior who is so compassionate that seeing other women in jeopardy keeps her up at night."

Churails is now streaming on ZEE5. 

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