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    FRAGRANCE OF FREEDOM: CHAMBAILI AND THE NEW LOLLYWOOD

    Written by: Syed Abbas Hussain
    Posted on: July 05, 2013 |

    Art imitates life and vice versa; the socio political climate of a country often finds expression in cinema. With the historic elections of Pakistan overseeing a politically enthusiastic population, notably the youth, politics bears resonance in the daily discourse.

    Chambeli, therefore finds a relevant context in Pakistan and has managed to make an impact at the box office. It is also worth noting that the recent string of Pakistani films which have been touted as pedestals of ‘change’ as far as Pakistani cinema goes, have had strong political undertones be it Khuda Ke Liye, Bol or the much anticipated film Waar.

    A political movement by a group of citizens to fight for their rights forms the crux of Chambeli’s plot. While the film is not a quintessential Lollywood flick in terms of its format, it does reflect shades of mainstream commercial cinema when it comes to its drama, music and action.

    The film underlines the existential problems which citizens of this part of the world are dogged by. It also provides a sense of collective catharsis for the disenchanted citizen by portraying characters with an unflinching conviction to stand in the face of dire oppression, eventually triumphing in securing their emancipation.

    The film is produced by Shahzad Nawaz and co-produced by Abdullah Kadwani, while Ismail Jillani gave his directorial vision to the project.

    The production team and cast are new to the medium of feature film and their passion for making a quality product in a country where cinema is yet to establish itself, drove their efforts.

    Chambeli has brought together a number of respectable names from television and theatre. The cast includes Shahzad Nawaz, Ali Tahir, Maira Khan, Hamayun Bin Rathar, Salman Peerzada, Omair Rana and Mehreen Syed.

    Producer Shahzad Nawaz has, in the past, produced a telefilm called Daira which was aired on Geo Television about a decade ago. Based on Mohsin Hamid's cult novel Moth Smoke, the television-film ruffled quite a few feathers at the time of its release, owing to its bold theme and presentation.

    But the big screen is every filmmaker's ultimate dream, one that Nawaz tirelessly pursued in spite of several hurdles.

    Omair Rana, a prominent name in Lahore’s theatre circle, plays a character with shades of grey. The message of political activism which is the film’s running theme is in consonance with Omair’s ideological leanings, considering that he is an activist of sorts.

    His character in the film, though, was quite an antithesis to his personal beliefs, a challenge he believes every actor has to embrace. ‘‘Doing the character of Rashid was not as challenging as it may seem, although his objectives in life are completely different from mine. Perhaps because I have been doing theatre and we are trained to focus on characterization. Perhaps because while I don't agree with it, I can understand the wants of a character like Rashid. And it is not difficult to find ‘Rashids’; they are all around us, apathetic, surviving by focusing on their short term goals of like, unforgiving, takers of the world.

    “To be able to have a protagonist provoke thought amongst the audience you often need an antagonist, Rashid is part of that. I am glad though that there is an arc to his character and he is not 'just a bad guy'.’’

    ‘‘Lollywood,’’ the term associated with Pakistan's Lahore based cinema in popular culture tends to portray women as sex symbols while the men get the meatier roles that drive the story forward. Chambeli, in that respect, broke the Lollywood norm so to speak and actress Maira Khan (a name synonymous with television serials and morning shows) had much more to do than to look pretty in the film.

    ‘‘My character was quite offbeat. Kiran is a character not very different from how I am in real life so I played this character with a lot of ease I would say. When I got the script I was very excited because it wasn’t like the typical, formulaic musical. The experience was beautiful because everyone was so dedicated and professional and most importantly on the same page. Everyone was passionate about making a good film at the end of the day.’’

    Chambeli: ‘The Fragrance of Freedom’, encapsulates the positive message of working collectively for the empowerment of citizens by breaking the shackles of despondency and apathy. The kind of reception the film has received proves that even though the Pakistani market is flooded with big budgeted Hollywood and Bollywood flicks, there is certainly a market for Pakistani films if they carry the right ingredients.


    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