Written by: Mahnaz Shujrah
Posted on: June 07, 2022 | 
| 中文
Saba Qamar as Hina and Sania Saeed as Sakina in Kamli
Sarmad Khoosat has had quite a week, first attending the Cannes Film Festival for ‘Joyland’, and now with the release of his cinematic masterpiece ‘Kamli’, which was released in theatres on June 3rd, 2022. The film was greatly anticipated by film enthusiasts and fans alike. Since its premiere, it has received praise from veteran actors and has created a hype across media publications since its release.
The cast and crew of Kamli. (L-R) Sarmad Khoosat, Hamza Khawaja, Saba Qamar, Sania Saeed, Nimra Bucha, Omair Rana and Zeb Bangash
Kamli is a story centered around the protagonist Hina (Saba Qamar), a girl who has been awaiting her husband’s return for eight years. The story follows her meandering path, as her life unfolds through a series of unusual events when she encounters Amaltas (Hamza Khawaja). Hina lives alone with her blind sister-in-law, Sakina (Sania Saeed), who has a dominating presence in her life. Hina’s routine remains limited, but a key aspect of her day is walking to a mansion to work as a model for an artist, Zeenat (Nimrah Bucha), who is working on a series of paintings with Hina as her central muse. Zeenat’s strained marital life forms the background to the story. Zeenat senses the sadness in Hina, which is also noticed by her husband, Malik Sahab (Omair Rana). The film is produced by Sarmad and Kanwal Khoosat, and directed by Sarmad Khoosat, while Irfan Khoosat is the executive producer. The screenplay and dialogues are by Fatimah Sattar, based on a short film by Mehar Bano. The director of photography is Awais Gohar.
Saba Qamar as Hina and Hamza Khawaja as Amaltas
‘Kamli’ is a film full of subtle and layered symbolism. It makes use of an enchanting setting, giving its characters an unworldly appeal. It also incorporates all the elements of earth, fire, water and air as recurring, yet evolving themes. Animals are also used as symbols in the film.
Saba Qamar as Hina in Kamli
One of the outstanding features of the film, undoubtedly, was its music, providing a diverse range of artists and instruments bringing together songs which were moving. Singers included giants like Reshma, Atif Aslam, and Zeb Bangash who sang “Mainu Tu”, “Mukhra” and “Kaash”, respectively. The music played a significant role in the film, adding to the depiction of emotions between characters. Powerful composition and lyrics, including poetry by Baba Bulleh Shah in one of the songs, added to the depth and effect of the plot. Paani, sung by Zenab Fatimah Sultan and composed by Saad Sultan, was my favorite song of the film, due to the climax it created. The sound engineering of the film was done by Ashar Khalid and Kashif Ejaz, while Saim Sadiq and Nadeem Abbas edited the film.
Saba Qamar as Hina and Sania Saeed as Sakina
Undeniably, the film is a work of art in its apt use of setting, magnificent use of sound and breathtaking cinematography, but the brilliance of the films exceeds the sum of its parts. It is important to keep Khoosat’s social message at the fore when reflecting on the film. The subtle way in which the story highlights such a deep-rooted characteristic of Pakistani society, of the culture around a breadwinner of the family leaving home in search of better opportunities. Zooming in on the lives of the women left behind, the film paints a picture of the unseen sorrows and struggles women face. I for one could feel Hina’s suffocation fill the cinema hall, radiating through space and time. This showcases not just extraordinary use of film making techniques, but also a characteristic feature of Khoosat’s work where he connects different dimensions of human issues.
Sania Saeed and Adeel Afzal in Kamli
Sharing her experience after the premiere, Saba Qamar said “Hina, a character that I've lived is unrealistically beautiful, to be honest watching Hina on screen gave me goosebumps throughout. The reason it made me so emotional is that it reminded me of all the hard work and effort that has gone into making this character realistic, and receiving appreciation for my performance in this role made me very grateful”. Sarmad Khoosat also highlighted the importance of a responsible audience, as the film promoted and encouraged people to come to the cinemas for the holistic experience, instead of just viewing clips on social media. “Jahan film banana ek zimadari hai, I think film ko dekhna, uss tehzeeb ko wapis le kar ana, ke jab aap akathay beth kay kisi ke saath kuch dekhtay hain experience kartay hain, uski bhi ek Tehzeeb hai” (While film-making is a responsibility, watching a film in a civilized manner is also a responsibility of the cinema goers.)
Omair Rana and Nimra Bucha in Kamli
This multi-faceted film has something to offer for all kinds of viewers, from an intellectually stimulating screenplay to mesmerizing visuals, Sarmad Khoosat has set a precedent in Pakistani cinema, proving that art films can simultaneously be popular, successful and impactful.
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