Channel 4’s South Asian Film Season 2024 is bringing Pakistani film ‘Kamli’ to screens this September. The film is directed by the seasoned director Sarmad Khoosat, while the screenplay is written by Fatimah Sattar. Kamli will air in the early hours of Tuesday, 10 Septmber at 1:45 am on Channel 4.
When it was released on June 3, 2022, Kamli received widespread praise for its gripping storyline and stunning cinematography. The film is an emotional drama that explores the complexities of love, loss, and longing in rural Pakistan. At the Lux Style Awards 2023, Kamli won Film of the Year in the Viewer’s Choice category, and Sarmad Khoosat received the Best Film Director Critic’s Choice award for his exceptional work on the film.
This season’s lineup also features an incredible range of films from across South Asia, including Joram, Bhagwan Bharose, Barir Naam Shahana (A House Named Shahana), The World is Family, Something Like an Autobiography, Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl), and Paradise.
Award winning director Sarmad Khoosat had a bad run in with hospital administration and he’s venting out anger.
He recently spoke out about a frustrating experience at a hospital, sharing on Instagram that he was scolded for wearing knee-length shorts while visiting the medical facility. Khoosat questioned why hospitals should control what visitors wear, especially when they’re just there to see someone, not for treatment. He recalled being asked to change into old, uncomfortable pants pulled from a dusty drawer by a guard.
The actor criticized what he saw as unnecessary policing, saying, “The policing and moral policing in this country are like a circus.” He pointed out how silly it is to worry about clothing instead of taking care of patients in a hospital, saying, “I hope they don’t judge patients by their clothes.”
Khoosat found it ironic that he was stopped because there were women around, sarcastically saying, “Can I ask the ladies to focus on their loved ones’ health instead of worrying about me?”
His experience highlights bigger issues about personal freedom and unfair rules in public places. He hopes for more sensible rules in hospitals and everywhere else.
On his Instagram story, Sarmad Khoosat wrote, “In what world are hospitals supposed to police what you are wearing? Not here for treatment but to meet a patient only. I was wearing shorts (not too short either – knee length), and the management told me to either go back or wear these pants, which emerged from a guard’s dusty drawer. The fit and the look of them would have made me look vulgar. I hope they don’t treat patients in wards and rooms based on their clothes. It’s a hospital for god’s sake. This country’s policing and moral policing are truly a circus. The guard said, “There are ladies inside!” May I please request the said ladies to focus on their loved one’s health and treatment and not be tempted by me? Not naming the hospital because I am sure such ridiculous laws are the easiest and quickest to implement across the country. Also: I entered through the emergency gate and the guard didn’t even bother asking me if I had an emergency or not.”
Two Pakistani films are winning prestigious awards at international platforms. ‘In Flames’, directed and written by Zarrar Kahn, has won local and international praise since its release. The film has now won the prestigious ‘International Newcomer Award’ at the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg. Taking to his Instagram account, Zarrar quoted a statement from the festival’s jury along with a picture where he posed with the award:
“Our award goes to a filmmaker who manages to shift and play with genre while maintaining a connection both to his audience as well as his protagonist throughout the film. The main character is a young woman who is allowed to be both brave and fragile, and she is brought to life through a wonderful debut performance that complements the mise-en-scene. The winner is In Flames.”
The Instagram account for the movie shared another clip from the event, adding in the caption that this was the first time in 70 years a Pakistani director had the honour to take home such a prestigious award.
While Sarmad Khoosat’s film ‘Kamli’ continues to win accolades even a year after its release. In Belarus, the Saba Qamar starrer bagged three awards at the prestigious Minsk International Film Festival. Qamar received the Best Actor Award, director Sarmad received Best Director and the Viewer’s Choice award.
Mahira Khan has uploaded a video of the Qawali night held at PC Bhurban during her wedding celebrations. Among the star-studded celebrity guests was her Humsafar co-star Fawad Khan.
Pakistan’s sweetheart Mahira Khan was a picture of serenity at her intimate wedding to tech businessman Salim Karim.
There was barely any information of who was invited to the private occasion, where only close friends and family members, along with a few figures from the entertainment industry, were present. In our previous story, we were able to decipher that among the attendees were PPP Senator Sherry Rehman, fashion designer and Mahira’s childhood best friend Feeha Noor Javed, and social media bloggers.
However, it looks like some celebrities did attend the occasion. Producer Nina Kashif shared pictures of the event on her Instagram stories, where director and actor Sarmad Khoosat, actor Shehryar Munawar, singer Azaan Sami Khan, fashion designer Asim Raza, director Nabeel Qureshi could be seen.
The producer, who partnered with the ‘Raees’ actress to purchase the rights of Faiqa Mansab’s book ‘This House Of Clay and Water’ shared some pictures from the mehndi where actress Momal Sheikh was also present, who is starring in Mahira’s currently airing drama ‘Razia’.
The sister of the groom Farah shahid Karim had shared a picture of the family along with the groom with the caption: “My brother’s wedding”
Pakistan was overjoyed a few days ago when superstar Mahira Khan and businessmen Salim Karim got married in a gorgeous ceremony held in Bhurban, where only close friends and family of the couple were present. However, as more pictures from the event emerge online, we are bringing forward the big names who attended the gorgeous ceremony.
Pakistani restaurateur and film actor Sikandar Rizvi shared a picture of the wedding today where he posed along with the groom and the rest of the guests. From the picture, we can see Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid- Chinoy’s husband, Fahd Kamal Chinoy, who is the CEO of Pakistan Cables.
Fashion stylist and blogger Samiya Ansari, who runs the Instagram account swearuponcoco was also among the attendees, as she shared a picture posing with Mahira’s brother, Hissan.
One of Mahira’s closest childhood friends, fashion designer Feeha Noor Jamsheed, posted a screenshot shared by a celebrity account of Mahira’s wedding video where she was seen crying.
Feeha also shared a long note yesterday on how she played a role in creating a match between Mahira and Salim, writing that she had vouched for his character to the actress.
PPP’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman had also attended the wedding, and shared a picture with the groom with the caption: “Here’s to you both @salimkarim ♥️ and Mahira. Khush raho abaad raho.”
News sources said that celebrities were not present at Mahira and Salim’s wedding, but we have reason to believe director and actor Sarmad Khoosat was among the guests at the wedding, as he is spotted in Samiya Ansari’s Instagram stories, wearing what looks like wedding clothes.
‘Gunah’ was a long-awaited drama, hailed by critics and fans of Sarmad Khoosat alike. Featuring powerful performances by Saba Qamar, Rabia Butt and Juggun Kazim in her comeback debut, the series revolved around the sudden disappearance of Gul Noor (played by Kazzim), who leaves her two children and husband, the powerful landlord Malik Hayat Khan (played by Khoosat) in agony. To help him deal with his grief, his in-laws suggest he marry their younger daughter Gul Meher (played by Saba Qamar). But when a new SHO Sabiha (played by Rabia Butt) begins investigating the disappearance, the clues she picks up prove that there is a lot more to the story than what she has been told.
As the drama ends today with the final episode airing on Express TV, we know how disappointed fans will be with one more spectacular television show coming to an end. But if your ‘Gunah’ nostalgia is going to hit a bit too hard, there have been some well-written crime-thriller dramas that you could rewatch this weekend. Here are some of our best recommendations.
Jurm
Starring the starry-eyed Wahaj Ali with Dur-e-Fishaan Saleem and Tooba Siddiqui in a supporting role, this is the kind of dark, chaotic drama that keeps you hooked through the twists and turns, and completely blows your mind away with the ending. The casting is absolutely well-chosen, with Wahaj playing the humble and warm-hearted husband Daniyal who is grieving the sudden kidnapping of his wife, but a twist later reveals he is not who he appears to be. What more do you need to pull you in to watching the drama than the fact that it was directed by Mehreen Jabbar, who was behind ‘Daam’ and ‘Jackson Heights’?
Ye Dil Mera
If you are chronically online then you must have seen on several occasions how this drama was consistently mentioned as the rare, few occasions the Pakistani entertainment industry managed to hit it out of the park. We have to agree with Twitter that its true, this drama lives up to its hype with a gripping storyline, as well as powerful performances by Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir. Sajal stars as Aina, the sheltered daughter of an industrialist who bags a coveted internship with Aman-Ullah Khan. As the two grow closer together, the trauma Aman suffered in his childhood and its link to someone special in Aina’s life threatens to tear apart their relationship.
Cheekh
If you’re not over Saba Qamar’s dizzying, seductive performance in ‘Gunah’ then we can’t blame you because neither are we. She could walk in a room dressed as a sack and will manage to outshine everyone. If you’re looking for more of her capitivating performances, then we recommend you watch ‘Cheekh’ starring Bilal Abbas Khan, Emmad Irfani and Ushna Shah. After the brutal murder and rape of her closest friend, Mannat (played by Qamar) pursues the murderer through court and explores the struggles she must overcome to ensure her friend is given justice.
This has been an amazing year for the Pakistani entertainment industry. With the Ali Sethi and Shae Gill song Pasoori topping charts worldwide, our singer Arooj Arif winning a Grammy, and now the film Joyland has been shortlisted for the Oscars.
This is the first time a Pakistani film has been officially recognized for the category Best International Feature Film at the Oscars.
The official page for the movie uploaded a clip where activist and executive producer of the movie Malala Yousafzai was on the phone congratulating director and writer Saim Sadiq and also extending her well wishes to the rest of the team.
Other Pakistani-British actors like Riz Ahmed also sent their congratulations to the team behind the film, as he posted this screenshot of an article by Deadline this morning.
Joyland had began generating excitement among Pakistani audiences when it received the Jury Prize in the Uncertain Regard Awards Category at the Cannes Film Festival. It also received a 10 minute standing ovation at its debut.
Standing ovation for debuts can be so damn overwhelming … #joyland is a tender heartbreaker of a film … Reminding me of our own #Masaan back in 2015 … pic.twitter.com/LT1ILJzspo
On Alina Khan’s birthday, director and writer of ‘Joyland’ Saim Sadiq took to Instagram to appreciate the actor’s talent and creative spirit by sharing how the two had bonded together before shooting a scene in Joyland where the audience meets Biba for the first time.
You can read the full post below:
A day before the shoot for Darling, Alina disappeared for hours. @sanajafri14 and I texted her to bring this particular pair of shoes with her that she had to wear for her first scene. The first scene this magnificently talented girl would ever shoot in her life. But Alina just wouldn’t answer anyone’s call.
No one could trace her until 12 am at night when she finally called me from an unknown number. I could tell that she was trembling when she said she was stuck in “a situation” and just ran away from it and now needs a place to stay the night. I told her to come over.
She finally arrived at 2 am. She had bruises on her neck from the assault that she had managed to run away from. Yet, all she cared about was that she makes it to set on time and not lose this opportunity. And in that escape, she lost her phone and handbag. All she managed to bring with her were the shoes and she kept assuring herself and me that everything was still fine because she had her shoes for her first scene. I gave her an ointment, she slept in my sister’s room and the next morning we started the shoot, cracking jokes and being chill as if nothing had happened.
Years later, we shot for her introductory scene as Biba in Joyland and had the most cathartic experience of our lives. Both of us found a quiet room to discuss what we normally only joke about: the casualness with which we have to process the violence around us. We both cried and got the tears out of our systems because we didn’t want Biba to cry in the scene. She was going to show up with the blood on her shirt and there was going to be no explanation to where it came from. Because the everyday violence around us never ever makes sense. We hugged and cried again after packup because we knew… this was our scene.
It’s hard for me to think of a person who is more unaware of their inspirational status in other people’s lives than Alina! You are a true heroine of our times! Happy Birthday, @onlyalinakhan ! Thank you for your talent, your spirit, and your magical artistry!
Director Sarmad Khoosat’s latest film Kamli headlined by superstar Saba Qamar and newcomer Hamza Khawaja has been garnering positive word-of-mouth by cinemagoers which has translated into a steady second week at the box office.
The Khoosat Films venture has received a vast array of glowing reviews. Now, the film that has been touted by many to be one of the standout films that the country has produced, is pacing forward as more and more people flock to cinemas to see what the hype is about.
The weekend numbers for Kamli are:
Day 1 (Friday): 32 lacs
Day 2 (Saturday): 44 lacs
Day 3 (Sunday) : 42 lacs
Day 4 – Monday: 23 lacs
Day 5 – Tuesday: 21 lacs
Day 6 – Wednesday: 22 lacs
Day 7 – Thursday: 21 lacs
Week 1: 2.05 crore
Week 2: 1.47 crore
Total: 3.52 crore
The second week collection confirms financial recovery of the project through theatrical avenue.
