By Asif Khan
If one glances through the innumerable causes of the lost glory of the ‘once thriving’ film industry in Pakistan, one would end up running short of fingertips to count the reasons, which resulted in our regression when the time was to progress. Hard hitting censor boards, a distinct lack of professional approach, absence of training institutions and constantly altering political trends influenced by certain religious codes, flimsy projects and lack of monetary incentives, you name it the film industry had to bear it.
Though the trash that the industry has been churning out has driven the class filmmakers and the audience away from the studios and cinemas of Lahore, there are still some who want to contribute their bit to save the industry from falling prey to stereotypes. Rauf Khalid is one such name. Back in early 1990s when PTV was obsessed with the Kashmir issue leaving the viewers with little option but to see a Kashmir drama every other day, Rauf Khalid’s Angaar Waadi created a stir and literally had the same viewers looking forward to every Monday. The actor-director’s fresh approach towards the issue, a glamorous cast (Atiqa Odho, Naveen Naqvi etc.), interesting visuals and sensitive treatment left its mark in the history of Kashmir dramas that PTV was flooded with.
Cut to the year 2001. Rauf Khalid is busy calling the shots, but this time he is not sitting behind the TV camera, it’s 35-mm that the director is focusing on. Rauf Khalid’s film Laaj, has just been wrapped up and is at a post production stage right now.
The bilingual film (produced both in English and Urdu) boasts of some bankable names of the entertainment industry (Zara Sheikh, Resham, Imran Khan, Rashid Mehmood, Nayar Ejaz, Aziz Aftab, Asif Khan and Talat Hussain) and some foreign name as James Kavaz, Pat Kelman and Fleur Kalinjsma adding icing to the cake.
Set in the backdrop of undivided British India, Laaj revolves around the 17-year-old and Ram Kori and a young Pathan Muslim Noor Ali Khan. The two fall in love notwithstanding the differences in their social and religious backgrounds. This leaves them with no option but to elope to be able to spend the rest of their lives together. This causes an uproar in both the communities and British rulers who had steadily been following the principle of “divide and rule”, take up on the opportunity to manoeuvre the situation to extend their rule.
Although the idea of a boy and girl coming from different social backdrops, falling in love, and fighting the “zalim samaj”, has been done to death, it’s the treatment that Rauf has been counting on to set it apart from the earlier flicks. Knowing Rauf Khalid’s record, one is hopeful that it will turn out to be more than old wine in a new bottle.
As a director Khalid tried adopting a different approach by using the net to invite fresh faces to grace his films. The idea, unfortunately, didn’t work as many a “shoqia” actor queued up at his door. Since the movie demanded more seasoned artists who understand the medium of films, the director was left to choose from the industry flock. Though the cast doesn’t comprise of regular Shaans and Reemas, the industry is looking up to Rauf to get a better performance from the lot he is heading.
The veteran group of international actors James Kavaz, Pat Kelman and Fleur Klinjsma are working for the first time in Pakistan. All the three names hail from the UK and have an impressive list of international movies on their resume.
Among them the most experienced was James Kavaz who played Maj. Gen. Sir John Colridge in Laaj. He has previously performed in Lolita, A Dance with Death, Capital Punishment, Bad place, Mother Courage, and Married Unmarried. The rest of the two British performers on the show Pat Kelman and Fleur Klinjsma put up an impressive performance despite the fact that this is their first brush with eastern culture. Pet Kelman who plays an English Deputy Commissioner Ronald Beatty has prestigious films like One Hell of A Christmas, The Good Ship Citizen, The Odyssey and Light House up his belt. While Fleur Klinjsma who is the third foreign name on the credit list of Laaj, has worked in The Beast, What’s Underneath, Alice in Wonderland and The Club.
At the outset Laaj appears to be well-conceived, thoughtful, entertaining and a concentrated effort to match international standards of filmmaking. It boasts of lavish backdrops, a colourful look, sensitive performances, and sleek direction. Whether it turns out to be as good as it appears to be, will be known by the end of the year, when Laaj is slated to hit nationwide theatres.
“It was around 3a.m.
When I saw this bright flash. After that I felt
these long fingers holding me down.
I woke up floating in a jar with tubes sticing out of my sides.”
-Zulfi, 22