A pure soul: The director’s ‘Welcome to Karachi’

KARACHI: Karachi’s soul is pure. Its people are diverse, culturally and economically, and yet there is a unity in this diversity. Perhaps this is what drew Indian director Ashish R Mohan most to the city.

As much as he would have liked to shoot his upcoming film, ‘Welcome to Karachi’ in the city, the director lamented he could not do so due to the risks associated with the city. He, however, described his first experience in what he calls ‘Bombay across the border’ as ‘exhilarating’. The filmmaker of Golmaal fame, who is currently directing the Arshad Warsi starrer Welcome to Karachi, spoke to The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview about his experience in the metropolis and how it affected his prior notions about the city.

For Mohan, Karachi’s biggest problem is its negative perception. “Those who have never visited this great city fear it for the sense of foreboding it projects to the outsider,” he lamented.

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Before his visit, Mohan knew from his research that Manghopir was a Taliban stronghold and you couldn’t venture into Kati Pahari for fear of getting shot on sight. He decided to put the rumour mill to the test. “I wanted to break these perceptions. I wanted to go back with positive stories and share these experiences with my family and social circle.” He believes this is the only way to debunk the myths that have come to be associated with Karachi.

“My best experience in the city was the visit to Manghopir,” recalled Mohan. “The people welcomed us so warmly and, just because I was an artist from India, the shrine caretakers allowed us to touch the crocodiles.”

Comparing Karachi to Bombay, its sister city from across the border, Mohan reasoned that both the cities were home to different cultures and people. “The people are the same. They look the same, sound the same, talk the same, even the weather is the same. You sweat as much in Karachi as you would in Bombay,” he chuckled. Mohan believes every megacity has its fair share of problems. That does not mean, however, that the city be made off-limits like Karachi.

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Mohan wants people to come and see for themselves what the city is about. “People believe in hearsay and develop their own perceptions about a place.”

Exciting as the city may be, it is also a great learning experience, says Mohan. “The way people from different backgrounds and cultures amalgamate into society and make their individual mark is a treat to watch.” From varying dialects to foods and cultural events, Karachi has something to offer for everyone.

Mohan hopes to change the perception about Karachi. “Life is too short. We cannot keep living engulfed in this hatred. I hope my efforts to show this city in a positive light will benefit people from both sides of the border.”