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    Film 'Chalay Thay Saath' to Mark a New Era of Cinematic Collaborations between Pakistan and China

    Written by: Hira Aftab
    Posted on: April 13, 2017 | | 中文

    'Chalay Thay Saath' stars Syra Shehroz and Kent S. Leung in the lead

    2016 saw Pakistan and China celebrate 65 years of friendship, which has been further strengthened by the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, a lesser-known area of cooperation are cultural and cinematic collaborations, with the upcoming film Chalay Thay Saath marking the first attempt to project the Pakistan-China bond onto the big screen.

    The recently released trailer for Chalay Thay Saath (CTS) not only lives up to the bar set by previous Pakistani film releases, but raises it further, promising a fun-filled ride of self-discovery, friendship and romance. In a little over two minutes, the trailer seamlessly integrates the beauty of the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan with a captivating storyline revolving around human relationships and emotions. At first glance, it might seem like a typical romance story, but don’t be fooled; CTS definitely has a few surprises up its sleeve.

     

    Alongside homebred artists such as Syra Shehroz, Behroze Sabzwari, Mansha Pasha and Zhalay Sarhadi, the film features internationally acclaimed actor Kent S. Leung in a lead role. The opening scene of the trailer shows Adam (played by Leung) walking though the Pakistan-China border and introducing himself in Urdu, his pronunciation alone making him endearing to anyone. Other key characters are introduced as well, such as Tania and Zain (played by Mansha Pasha and Osama Tahir respectively), a married couple planning a farewell trip for their friend Resham (played by Syra Shehroz). Meeting Adam along the way, they set out on a life-changing adventure, with Resham and Adam falling for each other over the course of the trip. Director Umer Adil highlights this unusual love story, making it the first ever film to feature a Pakistani-Chinese couple in the lead.

    Behroze Sabzwari and Kent S. Leung - Film Chalay Thay Saath: A Cinematic Collaborations between Pakistan and China

    Behroze Sabzwari (L) and Kent S. Leung (R) as seen in the film

    Over the last decade, Pakistan and China have both stressed the importance of cultural exchange, with numerous Pakistani schools and institutions actively teaching Chinese and facilitating Confucius Institutes around the country. The number of Chinese residents living in Pakistan is also growing quite rapidly. Hence, it comes as a surprise that while several movies have been released depicting Pakistan’s relationship with countries such as the USA and Afghanistan, never before has a film centered on relations between Pakistani and Chinese people.

     

    Many international film industries, including Bollywood and Hollywood, are vying for the lucrative Chinese market. Moreover, there is an increasing demand for South Asian productions in China, with producers trying to develop projects that cater to more than just their home markets. Most notable among these is Kung Fu Yoga, a joint production between the Chinese film industry and Bollywood, which was released at the beginning of this year, and stars Jackie Chan and Sonu Sood.

     

    However, it doesn’t stop at Bollywood. According to a number of insiders, the Chinese film industry is eager to trade films with Pakistan as well. In 2016, a delegation of Pakistani filmmakers and distributors visited China in order to foster opportunities for co-productions in the future. Consequently, both countries decided to host film festivals showcasing their counterpart’s respective movies. July 2017 will see a number of Pakistani blockbusters being screened in China. The dates for the Chinese film festival in Pakistan will soon be announced as well. With Chinese actors already participating in Pakistani productions, these festivals would attract attention from audiences in both countries.

    Film Chalay Thay Saath: A Cinematic Collaborations between Pakistan and China

    (Source: News 247)

    Chalay Thay Saath aims to showcase the positive side of Pakistan, which is often neglected by our media, and is therefore unknown to international audiences. The film is set to release on the 21st of April 2017 in domestic cinemas, and a tentative date for its international release is also in the works. Besides offering an entertaining storyline, CTS could serve as a major leap for our film industry by starting a brand new chapter of cinematic collaborations between Pakistan and China.

    Syra Shehroz and Kent S. Leung speaking Mandarin to promote the film (source: Instagram/KentSLeung)


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021