Trailer for feature film Huey Tum Ajnabi starring Mikaal Zulfiqar and Sadia Khan is finally out and playing in cinemas nationwide.

Little-known film features love story set against backdrop of 1971 war. Directed by Kamran Shahid, it sees protagonists Nizamuddin (Zulfiqar) and Zeenat (Khan) in Dhaka University of pre-partition Bangladesh some 50 years ago.

Trailer begins with snippets of calm before storm as it goes on to narrate tale of lovers, destined to meet and fall apart. It sees Zulfiqar and Khan’s characters romancing each other against magnificent sets, reminiscent of age-old hawelis.

Its striking visuals fall flat, though when muddled with VFX-laden visuals of war. Ttrailer goes on to show protests, as well politicians cooking up schemes to bring about mayhem. Coveting mass destruction and death, it culminates into polarising narrative patronised by several historical tropes and travesties.

Predictably, film is not going to have happy ending either, suggested trailer closes with conceivable sacrifice of hero, annihilation of monument and glimpses of systematic campaign of genocidal rape. It also looks at consequence of political rift driven by greed and power and displacement of millions.

If not gauged from politically-directed or jingoistic lens, film may present some hard-earned truths amidst sea of propaganda-based offerings. Especially since it marks journalist’s venture into filmmaking.

Aside from Zulfiqar and Khan, Huey Tum Ajnabi features Shamoon Abbasi, Sohail Ahmed, Mahmood Aslam and Shafqat Cheema, Samina Peerzada and Ayesha Omar. Film is being distributed by Mandviwalla Entertainment.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 14 2023

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