Pakistani Potterheads transform university campus into Hogwarts

Pictures from a student-made sequel to the 'Harry Potter' films took social media by storm

Lahori Potterheads from Government College University (GCU) are putting their rustic and beautiful campus to good use by transforming the buildings into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Students at GCU, in honour of the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter films, are holding a week-long festival full of costumes, props and a screening of their very own fan-made sequel to the films titled The Last Follower and the Ressurection of Voldemort.

This is not HOGWARTS ,This is GC Lahore ♥️ pic.twitter.com/Scg6Jn0WOd

— Iffi Awan.🇵🇰 (@btw_iffi) November 28, 2021

With a trailer bound to get any Potterhead jumping up and down in excitement, the film was originally shot and screened in March 2020. However, with the upcoming festival where the film is set to be screened once again, the trailer went viral all over Twitter, with several social media users left in awe of the quality of work that went into filming. The 84-minute long film is packed with gorgeous visuals and impressive CGI, allowing the students at the school to showcase the best of their abilities. Scarring and produced by GCU students, the costumes donned by the actors are true to the books and films, all the way down to the house scarves!

https://www.facebook.com/gcuniversitylhrpk/posts/4681968158536878

The film was released under the production house Khayaali Productions, with the main cast of actors including students and GCU alumni Umer Darr, Jazib Alram, Mariam Hassan Naqvi, Talha Chahour, Dua Marium, Sheikh Mubashir and Habib Chaudary. With long windows and beautiful brick buildings complete with high arches, the GCU campus is the ideal location for any Potterhead’s fan-fiction dreams.

Speaking to The Indian Express, GCU graduate Mariam Hassan Naqvi shared the thought process behind the production. “We started working on the project way back in 2018 but Covid-19 delayed some re-shoots. Looking at the beautiful architecture of our campus, we, a group of Harry Potter fans, always used to imagine that we can create our own Hogwarts here,” she said.

Naqvi added, “Our film has different characters and storylines but it is based on the Harry Potter theme. In the film, we take the story ahead on what happens years after Harry Potter and his friends had eliminated Lord Voldemort. We have also tried to focus on the power of true friendship like that of Harry, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley,”

Most social media users were all praise for the students and their hard work, with one user writing, “Safe to say all these channels with their subpar content should just quit. These students have done such a great job!” Another echoed the sentiment, tweeting, "This looks really good tbh! We should promote young filmmakers and actors, so we finally get to see quality movies from our own cinema.”

Safe to say all these channels with their subpar content should just quit. These students have done such a great job! 👍🏻 https://t.co/pIMQHQ2e5K

— . (@Hafla_noor) November 28, 2021

This looks really good tbh! We should promote young filmmakers and actors, so we finally get to see quality movies from our own cinema

Also, I hope they don't get a copyright claim or something from WB https://t.co/2Bsrh9RJnG

— Halaku Khan 🇵🇸 (@HalakuKhan_) November 28, 2021

One more tweeted about the possibility of the talented students using thier skills to come up with fresh ideas. They wrote, “Actually blown away by this. Imagine a desi wizarding school with all the drama. Someone get these kids working.” On how Pakistan does not have a lack of talent, a user posted, “This makes you realise that the film industry has so much potential but hamein tou saas bahu miyan biwi se agay barhna he nahi hai [but we don’t want to move past stories revolving around marriage and in-laws]."

Actually blown away by this. Imagine a desi wizarding school with all the drama. Someone get these kids working. https://t.co/kfcMwzT7kE

— o s m a a n ( Taylor's Version) (@toomuchusmaan) November 28, 2021

This makes you realise that the film industry has so much potential but hamein tou saas bahu miyan biwi se agay barhna he nahi hai…. https://t.co/CBZcLGvSfL

— A 🧣 (@scrofanoswift) November 28, 2021