Pakistani writer’s script has been shortlisted in Hollywood Screenplay Contest. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistani-American writer Mumtaz Hussain’s script The Kind Executioner was shortlisted in the drama category amongst the official finalists of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest last week. Now, Hussain is ready to transform this script, which portrays the relationship between late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his executioner, into a movie.
Hussain says his project, which is in English, is a piece of fiction derived from the last years of Bhutto’s life. “I am delighted to learn that my script has been appreciated because I am working hard to make this film my singular achievement,” Hussain told APP. The writer hails from Jhang but has lived in New York for the past couple of years.
The production will portray the relationship between the popular prime minister and his executioner Tara Masih, who believed Bhutto (executed in 1979) was a saviour of Pakistan. The script, which was evaluated by a team of writers and experts, is said to be intense in terms of both its dialogue and drama.
The Kind Executioner will be an attempt to cinematically answer questions in the audience’s mind by symbolism, and Hussain is confident that the average Pakistani, who doesn’t really have an interest in history or politics, will be able to enjoy it. He promises it will be meaningful, with unique transformations and expressions. He did not disclose too many details as he is keen on preserving the audience’s curiosity till the project is ready for release.
Hussain has held several exhibitions as a modern artist and has also published a collection of short stories in Urdu.
The winning scripts of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest, the body that has shortlisted Hussain’s film, the winning scripts are forwarded to several leading production companies and literary agencies. The screenplays are scored and evaluated on a multi-point scale with criteria including concept, structure, plot, pacing, character, dialogue, style, theme and marketability.
COMMENTS (7)
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Ironic, ZAB haters are still hating on him due to his socialistic & leftist policies which directly influenced the lives of working lower middle class. What a shame, what one could expect from such people who still take ''Malala'' as a bad guy. But it doesn't matter as after this movie gets finalised the reality would be unleashed
Only ET moderators can explain the logic and wisdom behind removing a comment about Mr Bhutto's mother's background and suppressing my response to the comment. Mr. Bhutto was proud of his mother regardless of her modest background, spoke fondly about her and her influence on his political thinking, later crystalizing into "roti, kapra aur makan" slogan. It did not materialize because of various reasons but he genuinely cared about poor masses of Pakistan, thanks to influence of his kind and compassionate mother. Yes, she was Hindu, converted to Islam and was legally married to Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto! Is anything wrong with that? Who were the mothers of Mughal Emperor Saleem Noor Al Din Jahangir and Khurram Shah Jehan or for that matter what is the ancestry of majority of Muslims in Indian Sub Continent? Aren't they the descendants of indigenous Hindu converts or they came from Mecca and Madina? Why are we so ashamed of our own background? I don't know why ET is so deferential to the hypocrites who tried to scandalize Mr Bhutto before 1970 election by publishing sensationalist articles with innuendos and half truths in their papers and "Digests?" One such character is still alive and kicking and still writing mournful columns about the state of the country; conveniently forgetting that it was he and his cohorts who created and practiced political violence, religious bigotry and intolerance.
Best of luck for your exotic efforts beguiling
There is certainly scope of creating interest for this topic through a movie, as he is one of the most polarising figures of our young nation's (only 66 years old) history.
Nauseating and bizarre!
Yes Bhuttos' lives ARE perfect movie/drama material.