KARACHI: Meals on Wheels is a programme in the West wherein food is delivered to the doorsteps of those who cannot afford it. Taking a leaf from this admirable gesture of hospitality, film-maker Jami has embarked on a journey across the highlands of Balochistan to screen the film.
With no fully operational multiplex present in the province as of now, Jami took it upon him to gather all the screening equipment that he could lay his hands on, got hold of his car keys and set about the trip. The portable cinema comprises a 25ft matte finish panaflex sheet, a couple of JBL speakers, projectors and Jami’s own laptop. With all this in the trunk of his Land Rover, Jami is currently on the road.
Talking to The Express Tribune, he expanded on the idea behind the trip. “The people of Balochistan have been deprived of cinema. They have the hunger and desire to watch movies,” he said. Jami feels Moor is a story of these very people. “I felt it is important for them to see things the way Baggu Baba does in the film.”
Although the makeshift arrangement is commendable to say the least, Jami said replicating the exact cinema experience was difficult. “I’m screening it on from my laptop so the sound is basically stereo and not Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound,” he added.
With a crew of 11 people by his side, Jami has already shown the film at places such as the University of Balochistan. Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Muslim Bagh and even the Pakistan Railways Club. Overwhelmed by the reception, he said, “Boss, it is after screening my movie over here that I realised what a response really is. People get excited, whistle and give standing ovations during the shows.”
Even during this conversation, the director was in the middle of a screening organised by Pakistan Railways Divisional Superintendent (DS) Haneef Gul for the department’s engineers and workers. One could distinctly hear the applause from behind, during the telephonic conversation.
He gleefully recalled how the film is turning out to be an eye-opener for railway officials. “DS Balochistan is going to take the film to the railways minister and the office of the CEO for a screening,” Jami said.
These screenings hold greater significance for Jami’s grand scheme of things for one more reason. “The movie has come full circle after being shown in places such as Muslim Bagh where we spent a considerable amount of time during filming.”
Jami plans on taking the film to other districts such as Loralai and Pishin. On the international front, the film has already impressed at Busan and now Jami plans of taking it to film festivals in Macau and Los Angeles.
Agent of change: Documentary on corruption in railways
Highlighting corruption in the railways department of Balochistan, Moor seems to have set the wheels of further inquiry in motion. While government officials are taking notice of the issue, the general public is also partaking in the discourse.
Following the release of the movie, Jami was approached by Quetta-based documentary film-maker Ilyas Karim who had footage of people stealing railway property. “He had filmed the culprits in action … stealing metalwork from the tracks,” Jami said. Under the banner of Jami’s Azad Film Company, Karim managed to produce a 17-minute documentary on the subject, titled, Dhoop Ke Dhare. The film has already been released online.
“We’ll see about the wider release. As of now we’ve released it online. We are also going to talk to television channels to see if they can broadcast it,” Jami added.
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