Film on Bhutto’s executioner hangs in the balance

Mumtaz Hussain searches for financiers for his scripts Tara Masih and Anarkali.

LAHORE: “The script of my new movie Tara Masih and Anarkali has completed and I’m in search of financiers from Pakistan to produce these films, but no one is willing and that’s really disappointing”, revealed Mumtaz Hussain whose screenplay, The Kind Executioner was shortlisted in the drama category amongst finalists of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest in 2013. The Kind Executioner revolves around the relationship between Zullfiqar Ali Bhutto and his executioner Tara Masih, who believed Bhutto (executed in 1979) was the saviour of Pakistan.

Hussain recently visited Pakistan to look for possible investors but all his efforts were in vain. “Not being able to find investors for stories like that of Tara is really tragic”, said Hussain at a session of ‘Artist’s Talk & Film Screening’ organised by the National College of Arts (NCA). “These are stories of Pakistan and I want to make these films in Pakistan”, asserted the filmmaker. The session was organised by the academy to recognise Hussain’s efforts in the field of arts and culture.

Hussain has directed and produced seven films so far which include animations, commercials and short films. Art=(Love) 2, Butterfly Screams, 2006: Push Button For, Yeh Mera Pakistan Hai, Inside You and Soul Civilization make up some of his well-known works. He bagged The Prestige Award for his film, Art=(Love)2  which also won him The Platinum Reel Award at the Nevada Film Festival in 2012.

Hussain embarked on a complete research odyssey for the script of Tara Masih, interviewing army officers and various officials. He consulted higher authorities and also approached the armed forces but he couldn’t find anyone who would be interested in launching the two projects.

The story of Anarkali, though traditional, will be of the current century, and the characters of King Akbar and Prince Jahangir will also play modern princes.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Hussain noted that the behaviour of the Pakistani government for the film’s promotion is "disheartening and it’s really distressing that there is support for religious elements to stage their sessions but no one is willing to do something for people belonging to the film sector". He concluded that until the government takes an initiative, the crisis of the Pakistani film industry will not settle. For the revival of the film industry, he says, the government should include the film sector in its list of priorities.