Swaarangi set for nationwide release

After days of decision and indecision, Swaarangi’s fate seems to have been decided. Following its initial ban by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the film’s producers had filed an appeal with the Information Ministry, requesting a review of the decision. As the six-member panel formed by the Ministry reviewed the film, it finally gave a nod of approval for its nationwide release without any cuts on Thursday. 

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Mazhar Abbas, the producer ofSwaarangi, shared how the panel that reviewed the film had no objection to the nature of the content. “Even they were surprised why the movie had been initially banned because they found nothing controversial in it whatsoever,” he said.

Abbas added that the movie will now release on its planned release date, September 11. “All the cuts and prints [of the film] are ready. We were only waiting for clearance from the CBFC so that the film can also be screened in Islamabad.”

Starring Resham, Ayub Khoso, Waseem Manzoor and Naveed Akbar,Swaarangi is described as a youth-oriented film, which revolves around the theme of substance abuse. It also marks veteran film actor Resham’s return to the silver screen after an extended hiatus. The film was approved for release by the Sindh and Punjab censor boards on Tuesday.

Swaarangi delayed to September 11

KARACHI: With almost half a dozen local movies being presently screened in cinemas across Pakistan, producers of Swaarangi have decided to delay the release of their movie as a goodwill gesture to support local films.

The movie, which was initially slated to release on August 28, has now been pushed back to September 11, stated a press release. With a limited number of screens in the country, it would have been very difficult to accommodate Swaarangi in theaters on its initial release date.

Explaining the delay in the film’s release, producer Mazhar Abbas said,“As a gesture to support revival of Pakistani cinema, we are delaying the release of our movie by two weeks. This will help all movies being made in Pakistan to perform better at the box office. This is in the spirit of supporting Pakistani cinema.”

Swaarangi is an upcoming Pakistani movie starring Resham and Ayub Khosa in lead roles. The movie marks Resham’s return to the silver screen after a gap of seven years.

Filmed in distant locations near Kalabagh, Swaarangi is based on real-life events and has been directed by Fida Hussain.

The movie is being described as another product of Pakistan’s parallel cinema. In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, the movie’s producer had told how they aimed to show the plight of drug addicts through this film. “When people watch the film, our goal is not to advocate a position or anything. We want to show how people who are drug addicts survive under those circumstances,” remarked Abbas.

Set for a September 11 release, the movie will now be in direct competition with Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s biopic Manto.

Hiatus due to below-par films: Resham

LAHORE: Resham, who has been away from the local film scene since nearly a decade, cited substandard films that were being churned out at the time as the reason of the hiatus. “I distanced myself from Lollywood due to the below-par films that have been made in the past decades,” she said, reported Roznama Express.

But in the wake of the film industry’s revival, Resham will soon be seen in Swaarangi, a comeback she said she’s making on the audiences’ insistence. “Swaarangi is not a run-of-the-mill, commercial film. In recent times, filmmakers have been taking brave decisions and are making unique movies,” she noted.

Swaarangi has been directed by Fida Hussain and produced by Mazhar Abbas, with Mianwali as the filming location. It’s a youth-oriented film, which revolves around the theme of substance abuse. Also starring Ayub Khosa, Waseem Manzoor, Hamza Mushtaq and Shahzeb, the movie is expected to release on August 28.

During her time away from the silver screen, Resham starred in a string of Pakistani television serials, such as Banjar and Mann-o-Salwa. Having debuted in 1995 with Syed Noor’s film Jeeva, she went on Lollywood films, such as Inteha and Pehla Pehla Pyaar.

“There is now a class system in the industry”

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What made you decide to return to the silver screen after an absence of eight years?

I started my career in cinema in 1995 and stayed active for more than a decade. During the period I made more than seventy-five films, several of which went diamond, platinum, gold and silver jubilee. Jeeva, Love 95 and Chor Machaye Shor were wildly successful and broke several records at the box office. As an actor, I came to be recognized not just from my looks and glamour but also for my acting and intelligence. But all the success notwithstanding, I started getting bored in the film industry after about spending ten years in cinema. I started feeling that I had accomplished what one could have in Pakistani cinema at the time and wanted to explore new avenues. So I returned to television and modeling, and slowly moved away from cinema.

But there was an item number you did for the film Chup.

Yes, there was. Shan is a veteran of the film industry and a good friend of mine. Chupwas his film and I wanted to be a part of the project. Doing an item number, as you call it, was a good way to work in Chup and have some fun. Shaan did an excellent job with the sets, lighting, music and costumes for my song. It was something new for me and I enjoyed doing it.

Swaarangi is one of the most visually appealing films ever made in Pakistan

Coming back to your return to cinema…

Yes. I had been looking for a challenging role. I could not do more films of the kind I had already done and needed to work in one that was different, off-beat and daring.Swaarangi was that film.

Did you find the film industry to have changed much during your absence?

The industry has seen a lot of change in the last decade, particularly in the last couple of years. Most of the change has been for the good. Technology is behind a lot of it. New Digital SLRs, the RED series, the Panavision Genesis and other digital cameras have made it possible to make high quality films without using film. The cameras cost less to acquire and operate. A lot of functions such as editing and creating special effects is infinitely easier in the digital world. We no longer have to worry about wasting film by doing multiple retakes.

There have been other changes as well. Producers and directors have now moved out of their studios and are shooting in actual homes and on location. Poorly crafted sets no longer bring the quality of films down. My film Swaarangi has been shot on location in its entirety and the results are stunning. I think it is one of the most visually appealing films ever made in Pakistan.

Photo by Ammar Shareef

One positive change – the one that actually got me to return to film – has been an increase in the number of subjects explored in our films. We are no longer limited to making love stories with songs and dances. Khuda Ke Liye, Bol, Lamha, Zinda Bhaag,Waar, and Chambeli broke new ground in Pakistani cinema. Films like these were not made in Pakistan in the past.

A lot of ‘new’ people have entered the film industry. Quite a few are very well-educated and have a lot of exposure to good cinema and the arts. The current set of filmmakers come from a variety of social, educational, cultural and financial backgrounds and have their own inqie talent, skill and persuasion. The diversity has led to the intellectual growth of Pakistani cinema.

Have there been any negative changes?

Yes. A class system has been introduced in the industry. People with better education, with more money and social standing, tend to look down upon veterans of the industry. They believe that they belong to a ‘superior’ class of filmmakers. This is wrong. One has to value and respect seniority and experience.  Our seniors, perhaps a little less educated, kept the industry alive through the years. And it was not always easy.

What is Swaarangi about?

Swaarangi is an art movie about the role of a woman in our patriarchal society. It shows the burden and responsibility a Pakistani woman carries on her shoulders and how she deals with adversity, unfairness and misfortune. The film celebrates the strength, integrity and resilience of the Pakistani woman.

I play Salma, a beleaguered woman whose husband is a drug addict and dependent on his wife in more ways than one. The wife believes in standing by her man’s side, and is in love with him, inexplicably, but struggles with the problems caused by his addiction. They are surrounded by people who do not want to see the husband kick his habit. The movie documents the tragic actions taken by the husband to support his habit and the catastrophic effect they have on Salma’s life. It is a sad but meaningful story.

Resham, Ally Adnan & Sharoot Adnan

How was the experience of working for an off-beat film and with a team relatively new to feature films?

It was a very fulfilling experience. This was the kind of film I had been wanting to do for a long time; the more I understood Salma’s character, the more I enjoyed it. I do not think people all over the world realize the weight that a Pakistani woman carries on her shoulders. I am grateful that I have been able to play a part in a film that honours her strength.

The teams was wonderful. The director, Fida Hussain, and producer, Mazhar Abbas, are new to the film industry. Absolutely wonderful people. Watching the earnestness and sincerity with which they worked on the film brought tears of happiness to my eyes. My two principal co-stars – Naveed Akbar and Waseem Mazoor – are new to films as well but very talented. They are also a lot of fun.  We had a great time during the shooting of the film. I hope to work with the team again.

You have been in show business for more than twenty years now. Have you enjoyed being in the limelight?

I guess you can say that I have. My career in show business has afforded me many benefits – money, social status, certain entitlements and cultural awareness; but I have had my share of adversity as well. The ups and downs one inevitably sees in the film industry are a great teacher. They certainly were for me. I learnt the value of money, success and celebrity in this industry. I learnt how to recognize true friends from amongst the many people who surround a successful star. I learnt how to deal with the capricious behavior of people, and the fickle nature of their friendships, when I was down. Most importantly, I learnt a lot about myself. My experience helped me understand who I was as a person, what really mattered to me, what made me happy, what caused sadness and what I looked for in friendships.

Resham and Babra Sharif

Friendship with Babra Sharif adds a lot of happiness to my life

Do you have meaningful friendships?

Yes, I do. I have very good friends both in the film and fashion industry as well as out of it. One of my closest friends is the very glamorous film actor of yesteryears, Babra Sharif. She is an intelligent, warm and wise person; her friendship adds a lot of happiness to my life.

What was your first experience in the film industry?

My first experience may well have been my best one. Syed Noor sahib cast me in his film Sangam after seeing me model. He is a seasoned director who has introduced many new people to the film industry. He worked diligently with me as I learnt the craft, and made sure that my debut in cinema was perfect. I put my heart and my soul into Sangam and the result, thankfully, was very good. It was a film I won the national award for. I think my performances in Sangam and in Sameena Peerzada’s Inteha are two of my best ones.

Was it easy for you to get into the film industry?

Yes, it was. I was lucky in that regard. I had been modeling and working on television for a while before Syed Noor sahib spotted me. He wanted someone who understood acting but was new to cinema. I fit the bill. Unlike a lot of others, I did not have to struggle to secure my first starring role in a feature film.

Do you attribute your success in the film world to your looks or to your talent?

I certainly hope that it is more talent than looks, but in an industry such as cinema, looks do matter and help. They certainly did in my case.

Doing an item number was a good way to have some fun

How did you learn to act?

Television played a great role in teaching me how to act. I believe that I was always an artist on the inside but my experience in television made me a complete actor. Reading the script, understanding character, delivering dialogue, facing the camera, managing continuity, reacting to other actors’ performances,  being relaxed on set – these, and many other things, need to be learned. Television helped me in this area. I developed my proficiency and skills in acting by working in television plays. Pakistan Television is a venerable institution, a university, if you will, one that has trained and groomed some of the finest actors of Pakistan. We must never forget that.

You have worked as a model, in feature films, on television and on stage. What is it that you have enjoyed the most?

I enjoy television the most, followed by film. Modeling is fun but not as fulfilling as acting.

What do you enjoy doing when not performing?

I enjoy reading books. It is my first love. I read both prose and poetry. I am also a lover of music. I enjoy good music and always have something on when alone.

I have not been romantically involved with anyone since

Is there a man in your life today?

No, not today. There was one up until three years ago but I have not been romantically involved with anyone since. I am enjoying being single.

Do you plan to get married and raise a family?

Yes, yes, yes!  I am planning on getting married and hoping to find, very soon, the right person to spend the rest of my life with. And, yes, I want to raise a family.

Do you have any regrets about the life that you have led?

No, I do not. I have been fortunate to have had success both in my personal and my professional life. I have mostly made the right decisions and learnt from the ones that were wrong. Some not-so-good things have happened in my life but, I believe, that everything happens for a reason. We may not always understand them but there are benefits associated with adversity. I am happy with the life I have led thus far. Very happy.

What keeps Resham going?

It is my passion for doing well in my field. I want to always continue to improve and evolve as an actor; my ambition and desire to do more, and to do better, keeps me going.

What does the future hold for Resham?

It is difficult to predict the future but I know that I will always be an actor and that I will marry and raise a family. I think the two are not mutually exclusive. I do not subscribe to the misogynistic view that a woman has to choose between family and career. She does not. Absolutely not. A woman can do well in both. There is no limit to what a woman can accomplish.

Swaarangi’s story is universal, says director

Swaarangi — The Melting Embers features the comeback of Lollywood star Resham after a hiatus of seven years. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY

LAHORE: Swaarangi — The Melting Embers is a story of drugs, local thugs, poverty and criminal activity taking place in poor neighbourhoods of Pakistan. It depicts how ordinary people are forced on the edge as a result of societal evils and how they ultimately deal with them. The cinematic Lollywood adventure, directed by Phida Hussain and produced by Mazhar Abbas, also features the comeback of actor Resham after a hiatus of almost seven years.

“When people watch the film, our goal is not to advocate a position or anything. We want to show how people who are drug addicts survive under those circumstances,” says Abbas. “It’s not just one individual who is being affected, along with his family and friends; the story is universal.” Pakistan-based Australian film-maker Summer Nicks is also on board as associate producer.

The movie is based in the city of Mianwali. A woman called Salma (played by Resham) fights for her family’s survival and their chance at a good life, while her husband Jamal (played by newbie Naveed Akbar, who’s also a part of Kaptaan), is a drug addict who would go to any extreme to gratify his cravings. The cast also includes Waseem Manzoo, Zulfiqar Gullshahi, Aftab Nisar, Hamza Mushtaq, Shahzaib Johar and Ayub Khoso, who plays the role of a local drug dealer.

Mianwali provides an interesting setting for the movie due to its emergence as a growing city as well as the prevalence of drugs and other issues. For the film’s director, this was the focal point when making Swaarangi — to connect with the local tales he had heard and encountered in the past.

“Over there [Mianwali], drug addiction is very common. So I think the story came about out of these local challenges,” explains Hussain. “The issues are those that are present across the country — poverty, drugs and crime, but at the same time, development is also occurring.”

Setting and music

The team of the independently financed movie (whose shooting began last year) has taken the dusty terrain of mountains and the rustic rural environment into account and incorporated it well in the project. “I had this idea at the back of my mind that I wanted to do a film that was centred in Mianwali and its culture,” says Hussain, who is from the city. “The scenery was something I wanted to present. So visually, we have shown all of Mianwali.”

During the spells of shooting, the cast and crew enjoyed an adventurous field trip too. They climbed the highest mountain in the Kalabagh range, which is known as the “shaheedan waali roh” or mountain of martyrs and there are also photographs of Resham crossing the aggressive-looking Indus River in a boat.

Music will not play a pivotal role in Swaarangi but a promotional song and video, done by Sami Khan, has been released which serves the role of a teaser. The movie has been shot using a digital camera and the production has been done in Lahore. The team is aiming for an Eidul Azha release but the exact date is yet to be finalised.

Hussain also feels it’s an interesting time for the film industry as films are being made by new directors and producers. “So I think veteran actors are also coming back [to the industry] in a new way, which is very important for the industry’s development.”

Resham to make a comeback in Lollywood with `Swaarangi'

 Actress Resham says after a very long time she got a different and a promising script.

Actress Resham is making a comeback in Lollywood after seven years in deglamorized protagonist role in an offbeat feature film titled "Swaarangi".

It is being produced by a new team led by debutante director Phida Hussain and producer Mazhar Abbas.

Talking to representative of media in Lahore‚ producer of the film‚ Mazhar Abbas said the film has been picturized at rural and mountainous areas of Mianwali district. He said the film would be presented to the viewers on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. The producer said the story of the film targeted at a woman's struggle in surviving in poverty with a drug addict husband.

Actress Resham said after a very long time she got a different and a promising script because of which she took up the role of Salma in Swaarangi.

She blamed the recent decay of the local film industry on stories not related to our society and said that revival of cinema depends on strong stories touching real issues of the society and Swaarangi was a good effort in this regard.