Pakistani Cinema

Set your heart on Sher Dil - Tribune Article

Posted: 19 Apr 2012 04:44 AM PDT

Pakistanicinema has been struggling to hit a chord with the local audience for a longtime. Film directors and producers have tried everything, from covering socialevils to showing political corruption, to make the audience connect with their'reel' treats. Another venture ready to test its value in the market is Sher Dil.It's basically a Punjabi film that portrays the theme of 'every man is a hero'with a number of sub-plots weaved into the main plot.

Sher Dil shows the power struggle between politicians, policeand journalists. Producer Haji Shera says that, "People look at politicians andsee nothing but corruption and I feel it's time to change the local mindset. Inthis film, the hero will not be a gujjar, rather it will be our local police."

The film is also special in a way because it marks thecomeback of director Iqbal Kashmiri who is known for his hit films during 70sand 80s. The director, whose films did not meet the same fate in the 80s and90s, hopes to make a memorable comeback with Sher Dil and bring out the best ofPakistani Punjabi cinema.

The powerof words

Shera explains that for the first time a Pakistani filmutilises the skills of three scriptwriters, who have managed to make the scripttighter. "One of our biggest issues has been that we have not given enoughemphasis to scripts in Lollywood. I think it has taken away from what we canachieve as an industry," says Shera, who has not confirmed the release date ofthe film.

Safeequation?

The film stars Shaan in the lead role as an honest DeputySuperintendent of Police (DSP) opposite Saima in the role of a woman policeofficer. The cast also includes Shafqat Cheema, who plays the role of aminister, Jahangir Jani as a minister's spoiled child, Sila Hussain as atelevision correspondent and Zeeshan Sikander as the cameraman in the film.

The pairing of Saima and Shaan is one of the oldest and mostdone-to-death casting in recent times. At least three other major films namelyIshq Khuda, Sharika, and Ik Si Sher will include the same duo. When asked whythey chose to cast the industry's most common lead pair, Shera says that facevalue remains very important in the film industry to this date and the two area perfect combination of looks and talent. "We needed a mature lookingcharacter to fit the role of a DSP so we chose Shaan. Saima, on the other hand,has the ability to bring depth to the character as well as face value."

Stayingaway from the gangster culture

Actor Sila Hussain says she is excited about her role of areporter in Sher Dil. "I deal with media on an everyday basis so for me, thisrole is very relatable," says Hussain. "Media and reporters have been soinvolved in shaping issues and I like how this film aims to highlight thisfact."

Hussain seems positive about the film's success since it istrying to bring something different to the big screen. She explains thatKashmiri was against the gangster culture shown in the film which is why hetook a break from film-making. "He quit the industry for nine years due to thisculture that had developed. And now that he is back, he tries to promote a differentand honest culture in his films."

Publishedin The Express Tribune, April 19th, 2012.

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