We have to tell stories like Javed Iqbal's: Yasir Hussain

It was a cold November day in 1999 when Punjab police received a package. The parcel contained a diary, box of half-naked pictures and remains from 100 victims - boys, mainly - ranging from ages of 6-16. It was a mail sent to the police by Pakistan's most ill-famed serial killer and rapist, Javed Iqbal. 

Iqbal confessed to his crimes, adding a suicide note to the mix, claiming to have taken his own life by the time the police would find the box. However, he made headlines when he was arrested, taken to custody and ultimately tried for his killings. On just any other day, if he crossed you on the street, you wouldn't grant him a second look. But when he stepped out of the court, handcuffed and silent, the cold, menacing stare stayed with the onlookers for years.

That bland poker face is what actor Yasir Hussain channels in the first poster of Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer. It wasn't an easy task to play Javed, the actor shared with The Express Tribune but a story "that needed to be told."

Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer is based on a book penned by its director, Abu Aleeha. Titled Kukri, Iqbal's childhood name, Aleeha's work became a best seller in no time and he decided to turn it into a film, casting Hussain and Ayesha Omar in titular roles. Since the release of the poster, the Jhooti star has been lauded by many fans and his fellow peers for acing the look, but the praise was followed by heavy criticism.

Keeping it real

"The poster received very good feedback," Hussain shared. "Someone asked me what would be the message of this film? What's the purpose of it? I want to know what kind of message does Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, Punjab Nahi Jaungi or such films really give out?"

The actor went on to add how when such biopics are made in the west, they wish to keep it as authentic as possible. "We haven't been gory at all, so I don't understand the critique," he remarked. "The film doesn't show the recreation of his crimes, it revolves around his confession to the police and what followed. The idea isn't to highlight anything negative about Pakistan, but did these crimes not occur? When people ask me what was the need to make this film, I ask them why not?"

Hussain relayed how he is a staunch supporter of producing 'real' content. "I have been an avid advocate of showing the honest picture of our country. The stories are never meant to be limited to Javed Iqbal or the likes. I've been asking everyone to make films on Abdul Sattar Edhi, on Abdus Salam and Abdul Qadeer Khan as well. I would have loved to be cast as Edhi Sahab if anyone is making a film on him," he continued.

Yasir went on to add that he isn't hungry for work either. For him, it's always quality over quantity. "I have worked in only three dramas in 12 years," the Lahore Se Aagay actor quipped. "I didn't want to pick typical roles. I wanted to work on dramas I thought had some potential."

Speaking of making 'realist' films, Hussain spoke about how the Pakistani entertainment industry is miles behind, naming censor board as one of its major setbacks. "We have films like Zindagi Tamasha which is still awaiting its release. Pray tell, what is so unethical about it? We are happy with showing item numbers, cleavages. All of it was even more common in the 90s, not just today. So, we need to set an age limit for the audience to watch certain films and add a certificate to them." he said.

"Our lives aren't this pleasant. Name one incident that really made you proud in the last ten years. We need to take our narratives into our own hands; otherwise, others would take up the opportunity and make films on our stories.

Owning your own

Speaking on the same, Hussain went on to assert, "Bollywood is making a film on Heera Mandi. Now, Sanjay Leela Bhansali calls the shots and what if they're still stuck in portraying Pakistani as people who still wear Jinnah caps, kohl-rimmed eyes and address each other as aap-janaab? Do you know what I mean?" He questioned and added, "How can someone show us in the right light if they don't even live in the same country? How can Indians have more knowledge of our history than we do?"

Hussain further lauded his producer, Javed Ahmed, who invested in the film. "It is a huge risk," the actor replied. "We don't know if this will work or not. It isn't your quintessential entertainer." He added that there are films that are certain to make business, and as he puts it, patriotism always sells. "India's strong suit is to make anti-Pakistan films and for that, they do tremendous business. Their audience reach is massive, so is their budget, so whatever they would work on would do brilliant business."

But working on a biopic of Pakistan's most terrifying criminal has its own cons. "It wasn't easy," he said. "We had to do a lot of research. We have never seen Javed speak or act in a certain way. What we know is that picture [one he recreated for the poster] and a few accounts of people close to him."

His story, Hussain responded, was one the audience needed to know. "He didn't rape two kids, he raped 100 boys," he said. "If we never made it, someone else would have. This way, we decide how to draw the picture. This isn't negative content, it's a true story."

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