Pakistani film 'Mai Bakhtawar' wins big at Indian film festival

Production focusing on peasant resistance garners multiple awards at West Bengal's Belghoria Film Festival

KARACHI:

A short film produced by the Culture Department of the Government of Sindh has won multiple awards at an international film festival in India, drawing attention to a powerful chapter of peasant resistance in Pakistan's history.

Mai Bakhtawar, written and directed by Shahnawaz Bhatti, secured Best Director and Best Screenplay awards for Bhatti, while veteran actor Kaif Ghaznavi received Best Actress at the Belghoria Film Festival held in West Bengal.

The film is based on the life of Mai Bakhtawar Lashari Baloch, a peasant woman from Sindh who became a symbol of resistance against feudal oppression during the British colonial era. She was killed in 1947 after leading efforts to demand fair crop-sharing rights for farmers a struggle that later inspired the Sindh Hari Committee, one of the province's leading peasant rights movements.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Shahnawaz Bhatti described Mai Bakhtawar as "a historical figure who was martyred in the 1947 farmers' movement for her rights."

"She wanted farmers to be given their due share and basic information about their crops wheat and other produce. Before that, this was not a practice," he said. "It was a movement for dignity and justice."

Bhatti said the team had submitted the film to several international festivals after completing production in Sindh. When they received confirmation from India that the film had been selected, they were informed of a nominal submission fee.

"As the producer is the Culture Department, there was no policy to transfer money for such purposes," he explained. "I even contacted the Director of Culture, Salim Solangi, and he confirmed there was no provision for it."

Bhatti briefly considered arranging the amount privately through friends abroad, but ultimately decided against it. "I thought if there is no official policy, then I should not send the money. Still, we later received an email confirming that the film had been selected."

The screening, he said, turned out to be a significant moment.

"There was curiosity about whether a Pakistani film was part of the festival. Initially, they said there was none," Bhatti recalled. "You know how perceptions can be, especially about films from our side."

However, once the film began, he said the atmosphere shifted. "Everyone was quiet. After the screening, it was appreciated a lot. They said the film carries history, culture and is technically well made. Such films are rare."

According to Shahnawaz Bhatti, members of the jury, comprising several national award-winning filmmakers, praised the storytelling and performances. The awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director went to Bhatti, while Ghaznavi's portrayal of the central character earned her Best Actress.

"They later sent photographs from the ceremony, which I shared on social media. Official images are still to follow," he added.

The story of Mai Bakhtawar rooted in Sindh's agrarian history continues to resonate in contemporary debates about land rights and social justice. Through cinema, Bhatti says, the aim was to bring that legacy to new audiences beyond borders.

"The struggle was local," he said, "but the message is universal."