Written by: Syed Abbas Hussain
Posted on: October 03, 2019 | 
(L to R) Eman Suleman, Sarmad Khoosat, Aruf Hassan, Nirmal Bano & Ali Kureshi
The first glimpse of director Sarmad Sultan Khoosat’s much awaited upcoming film Zindagi Tamasha was shared at the Olo Junction in Lahore on Sunday, 29th of October. Khoosat, along with some of the cast and crew members of the project, unveiled the trailer in the presence of journalists and people from different walks of life.
Also present on the occasion was film distributor Sheikh Abid from IMGC and Distrbution Club. While referring to Sarmad’s Khoosat’s reputation of making unique films, he described how the content of Zindagi Tamasha piqued his interest from the get go. “I believe such films should be supported,” he underlined.
Zindagi Tamasha is an intimate portrait of a family settled in Lahore, and a scorching political commentary on the moral police who stifle the creative pursuits of passionate individuals. The film features an ensemble cast, starring: Samiya Mumtaz, Arif Hassan, Eman Suleman and Ali Kureshi, among others.
Sheherzade Noor Peerzada introducing the trailer
Dealing with the sensitive and potentially contentious topic of religion may be considered a herculean task, but for the film’s director Sarmad Khoosat, what helped was his firm resolve coupled with a clarity of purpose. “The question of sensitivity should only relate to the treatment of a film’s subject. When you embark upon a project, you should know where you stand and in this particular instance, I was confident about my moral position. Most importantly, I have not attempted to spread sensationalism in any way. The film has been cleared by the censor-boards of all the provinces.”
The prolific director who is known for his blockbuster drama serials like Humsafar and Shehr-e-Zaat as well as hard hitting artistic cinema such as Manto, continues to reinvent himself and tread challenging terrain. He hopes that his latest venture will resonate with the audience who will get a chance to watch a vulnerable piece of cinema that is organic and impactful.
Audience attending the trailer launch
The quintessentially non-commercial films of Pakistani cinema are generally expected to portray socio-political themes with melancholy and grotesqueness. However, Khoosat underscores that while attempting to address grave issues in the film earnestly, he has also strived to bring out an element of joy and festivity which is deeply rooted in Pakistani culture. “This film explores a very celebratory side of Pakistan and in fact a celebratory side of religion. It is set against the backdrop of the religious festival of Eid Miladun Nabi”, he stated.
The music of the film - according its makers - has appropriately catered to the general tone of the film, and therefore has a distinctly raw quality to it. They shared that the tracks are inspired by Lollywood songs of yesteryear, which tend to be caricatured in popular culture, but in Zindagi Tamasha have been presented with authenticity.
The film is expected to hit Pakistani cinemas in January next year, but will premier internationally at the Busan Film Festival, Korea on the October 4, 2019. To watch the trailer on YouTube, click here.
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