While most of local films are lined up for release on Eid-ul-Azha, a few films are expected to release in later half of the year. Among those films, Fawad Khan’s ‘Neelofar’, Abu Aleeha’s ‘Taxali’, Azfar Jafri’s ‘Umro Ayyar’ and Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Asmaan Bolay Ga’ are prominent but there has been no release date locked for those films. However, a musical thriller ‘Sanak’ has been locked for release in September after the Holy months of Moharam and Safar during which cinema business is mostly dull.
“Sanak is a musical thriller. It’s basically a thriller with a very good music. We had to give special attention to its music as Vishesh Films are involved and good music is their trademark”, told Shyra Roy while speaking to Pakistani Cinema. ‘Sanak’ is written by Bollywood writer and director Vikram Bhatt who is known for directing ‘Raaz’ series and many other horror films. “It’s an adaptation of Vikram Bhatt’s own film ‘Dastak’ (1996) that starred Sushmita Sen but it’s 50% the same story and 50% more evolved. This time we have added more layers to the characters. There’s a back-story of the antagonist to make some sense for his actions. Also as it’s a new-age film so it also has added themes of cyber-stalking and related crimes”, told Shyra.
Shyra is known for being first Miss Trans Pakistan crowned in 2021 and now she is all set to venture into film production under the banner of Roy Motion Pictures. She would also be playing the female lead in the film. Although in recent years trans model and actors Rimal Ali and Alina Khan made their cinema debuts with ‘7 Din Mohabbat In’ (2019) and ‘Joyland’ (2022), respectively, this, however, would be the first time that a trans actor would be playing a female lead. “I don’t think it should matter. Why it’s not an anomaly when a man plays a woman or a trans-woman. Or even when a woman plays a man or a trans-woman. Why can’t trans actors play woman or a man?”, questions Shyra while challenging the status quo of the industry.
Talking about whether the film is a co-production between India and Pakistan, Shyra says:
“It’s not an Ind-o-Pak collaboration. It’s a Pakistani film with script written by an Indian writer and Vishesh Films being involved in overseas release. Rest the whole team is from Pakistan. It’s producers, director (Hassan Fareed), DOP (Faisal Fareed), cast members, and everyone involved in music are all Pakistani. It’s also shot entirely in different parts of Pakistan”.
Starring Muneeb Ali, Zubair Shariq, Beenish George besides Shyraa Roy, film is produced under the joint production of Roy Motion Pictures and Imdad Hussain Films.
‘Sanak’ releases in cinemas across Pakistan on September 29 by Wali Films.
