Earlier this year, the film buffs waited anxiously for several months before the release of the very first Pakistani film. Luckily, there won't be a repeat in 2015, with the first film slated for release on 1st January. Oscar and Emmy winning producer, Sabiha Sumar is ready to give the audience the first Pakistani film release of 2015, Good Morning Karachi. With the release of the film just around the corner, let's hear more about the film from the director herself, Sabiha Sumar...
Sabiha Sumar has won worldwide critical acclaim for documentaries and narrative films like Saving Face, Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters), Dinner with the President and Who Will Cast the First Stone.
What can you tell us about Good Morning Karachi (GMK)?
Sabiha Sumar: GMK is a coming of age story of a young woman in Karachi. The movie shows the journey of a young woman called Rafina, who has a dream of becoming a star in modeling, and how she tries to create her own destiny. The film is uplifting and inspirational and will particularly appeal to youth as it is their story that will come to life on screen. The film is in Urdu and English. I am really excited to screen my film in Pakistan at a time when our cinema is slowly emerging and coming into its own.
Tell us about the cast?
Sabiha Sumar: I had a wonderful cast to work with this time. I worked with both new and old actors for this film and the teamwork between them was excellent. They were dedicated and gave a lot of their time to make this a really good film. It was Amna Ilyas’s first film, so I had to coach her for couple of months before shooting, and she was very keen to learn. I think that dedication is really important in order to perfect the craft. Saba Hamid, in my opinion, is the Meryl Streep of Pakistan. She is always flawless in her play and is a very intuitive actress, who understands exactly what a scene is trying to say and delivers it. I cast her because I remembered her from all the old dramas on PTV. In GMK, she was, as always, amazing and wherever we screened the film, everybody noticed her. Khalid Malik is another well trained actor. He is sincere and versatile. Then we also had other professionals from the television industry such as Savera Nadeem and Farhan Ali Aga, both very good. It was an exciting and diverse group to work with for GMK.
Where did the idea for Good Morning Karachi come from?
Sabiha Sumar: The idea for the film came from Shandana Minha’s novella, Rafina. I loved the idea of a film showing the life of a young woman in the fashion industry. When we decided to do this story, however, we had to make many changes in our screenplay. The film is based on many real-life characters that I came across during my research for the film. The opening up of the media in Pakistan created many glamorous jobs for the youth in the industry, especially in fashion. The fact that Pakistan was completely unprepared for this, having invested nothing in a film school or a TV academy, was ironically a silver lining for us at that time. The lack of an ordered system gave many young women and men a chance to come out and prove themselves as film and television actors, TV anchors, talk show hosts, writers, technicians, producers and production designers. Rafina’s story mirrors the lives of these countless urban youth. I am sure that when people watch the film, they will see their own dreams and hopes reflected in it.
"The movie shows the journey of a young woman called Rafina, who has a dream of becoming a star in modeling, and how she tries to create her own destiny."
The film has been screened at film festivals around the world, what kind of response have you received from the audience?
Sabiha Sumar: The film premiered at the "Goteberg Film Festival" in Sweden. We had three screenings there; all of them were sold out and the audience loved the film. It really pulled the Swedish audience out of their comfort zone and questioned their previous understanding of Pakistan. We had gone there as a delegation of 14 in all, including our main cast and crew. And it was a very moving experience for us all. All the question and answer sessions following the screenings were really interesting. Foreign audience's were amazed at how urban Pakistan has changed so much over the last few years. We had many questions about the fashion industry, as unlike in the West where the industry exploited women, fashion in Pakistan had really enabled women to shine. Most of the audience’s were young people and they engaged in these sessions passionately.
The film was previously titled Rafina, before it was re-titled Good Morning Karachi, what was the reason for the change in title?
Sabiha Sumar: Rafina is the name of the protagonist of the film. We thought it would be a suitable title, since the film is about this young woman’s struggle to achieve her dreams. However, when the film came out we realised that the film is about much more than that. It is as much about the city where Rafina lives, as it is about her. GMK lives and breathes Karachi, and Rafina’s story is about the countless number of people who live in this city or who have come here with a dream. With over 20 million people, Karachi is one of the fastest growing metropolises in the region and its sheer diversity and opportunities cannot be easily matched by any other city in Pakistan. It is this space that allows Rafina to grow. Therefore, we felt Karachi was an important component that shouldn’t be lost when people come to see the film.
"I am sure that when people watch the film, they will see their own dreams and hopes reflected in it."
Are there any surprises in store for the audience during the screening of GMK?
Sabiha Sumar: We have a lucky draw that is advertised on our Facebook page. Every advance ticket bought for GMK for shows at 'Cinepax Cinemas' at 'Ocean Mall', 'II Talwar' or 'City Auditorium', 'Ayesha Manzil', 'Federal B Area' can compete in the lucky draw. Cinema fans should just have to post their ticket number on our Facebook page and check at the ticket counter when they go to see the film. They could be the lucky winner(s)! Our gifts are especially designed for women or the special woman in your life: be it your mother, sister, wife or daughter. We have more than 500 gifts to give away.
What message do you have for our readers who are looking forward to the release of the film?
Sabiha Sumar: The film has something in it for everyone. Especially for young people, who can relate to Rafina’s ambition and her struggle. It’s a momentous time for us in Pakistan as we are able to enjoy movies once again in cinema halls. My hope is that people will go out and enjoy that experience and watch films made in Pakistan alongside films from outside.
"Good Morning Karachi releases across Pakistan on 1st January 2015, contact your local theaters for listings and bookings."
Click below to watch the trailer of Good Morning Karachi:
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