I feel like I was destined to make films: Sakina Samo

Sakina Samo talks about her big-screen directorial debut 'Intezaar' headed to New York

KARACHI:

There are a handful of veteran actors who have many a colourful feather in their hats, but not many as colourful as Sakina Samo; an established actor first and now an accomplished film-maker.

The journey from acting in Dewarain to directing an acclaimed serial like Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai has listed her among the virtuosos. Not just that, she is also an exception who has been duly recognised by the government with a Tamgha-e-Imtiaz first and now a Pride of Performance. On top of that her first feature film, Intezaar is set to premiere at New York’s Harlem International Film Festival. And yet she continues to tell stories, something Samo feels she was destined to do.

 “TV directing has given me the experience and confidence to feel like I could take the reins on a full-length feature but the methodology, the work, and the ethical concerns remain the same,” Samo tells The Express Tribune.

According to the Dar Si Jati Hai Sila actor, “You just have to be a lot more efficient with what you want to say with your work. Instead of 26 hours on TV, you’ve now only got two in a film. That presents a challenge but one I look forward to.”

How did she get to this point in her life where she decided to settle herself into the director’s chair when her acting career had been thriving?. “I had a curiosity and an imagination that best expressed itself when I was in the director’s chair,” she exclaims.

Intezaar revolves around the feeling and concept of 'waiting'. The project has other big names attached to it as well; it is penned by renowned writer Bee Gul, co-produced by Azeem Mughal, and features Samina Ahmed, Khalid Ahmed, Kaif Ghaznavi, Raza Ali Abid, and Adnan Jaffar in lead roles.

“The film was done in 2019 and we got the release date in March. Then Covid-19 happened. But soon InshaAllah we’ll release the film in Pakistan too,” reveals Samo. However, that did not put a damper on her other big plans for the project, and herself as well.

“Through the process of making this first feature independently, I’ve learned a lot about the international festival circuit and all of this experience should hopefully feed into the next feature I’m already hard at work on,” she shares hopefully, adding that while the Harlem International Film Festival may have moved online due to Covid-19, it remains a big achievement for her.

For her countless contributions, Samo was announced as the recipient of the 2020 Pride of Performance award as well, making the year even bigger for her. “I do feel that the greater the award, the greater the responsibility. Both as a representative and also to do my best work in the future,” she says about the feat, adding, “I feel grateful I’ve been awarded as I have, but I feel that that is a by-product of the work, which is what I care about most.”

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