DUBAI: A Pakistani film, which is mainly produced by the country’s expatriate community in Dubai and focuses on the unpredictability of life, is all set for a global release on the national day of the United Arab Emirates which falls on December 2, confirmed its writer and actors on Sunday.
Shot in Dubai, Georgia and Thailand, “Yaara Vey” will be simultaneously launched in Pakistan, the Middle East, United Kingdom and the United States.
A poster of an upcoming Pakistani film, Yaara Vey, which was mainly produced by the country’s expatriate community in Dubai and is scheduled to be globally released on December 2. (Photo courtesy: Aleeze Nasser)
Mahwash Ijaz, the co-author of the story, described the film as “UAE product,” saying the storyline was heavily structured around characters based in the Gulf state.
Speaking to Arab News, she said the film “shows that life is unpredictable and can throw curve balls at you.”
“You have to listen to your heart when you want to make the right decision,” she continued, as she hoped that “people will come out of the film feeling loved and having experienced a beautiful journey.”
Ijaz said the central character of the production was an expatriate.
“The film shows many of the struggles and feelings we go through as people on the move,” she said. “It has a global appeal in the sense that love and unpredictability of life are universal themes.”
Asked how “Yaara Vey” planned to set itself apart from other films focusing on similar subjects, she said its central character was a modern, self-confident female which was a rarity in most Pakistani big-screen productions that heavily relied on male protagonists and heroes.
Ijaz maintained this pattern was unlike television productions “where most stories are centered on women.”
“This is a film written by two women,” she continued. “I feel we have a unique grasp of female psyche. When we were writing the film, we were very mindful of how women talk and behave with their male counterparts. So, I think one of the key ideas in the story is how women see women and love as well. A lot of inspiration comes from there.”
Aleeze Nasser, a Dubai-based actor, debuts in the film as the female lead and appears with popular Pakistani television actor Sami Khan.
She described acting as her passion in an email interview with Arab News.
“After my business graduation, I went on to New York Film Academy to graduate in acting,” she said. “I have always had this deep-rooted desire to act. Hence, I prepared myself by professionally, learning various forms of dancing and horse riding etc.”
Nasser maintained many girls would identify with her role.
“My character has a lot of elements that resonate with me and I am sure it is the story of many girls who can relate to it,” she said without sharing further details.
She was previously associated with the Dubai Film Commission and actively participated in its growth. She also made appearances in short films and commercials in the past.
Nasser, who was also involved in the production of the film, said she enjoyed acting more than anything else.
This screenshot captures a scene from an upcoming Pakistani film, Yaara Vey, which is scheduled to be globally released on December 2. (Photo courtesy: Asad Raza Khan)
Another Dubai-based Pakistani actor, Asad Raza Khan, who plays the friend and love interest of the protagonist in the film, said many international projects were shot in the UAE after its government started giving facilities, such as the golden visa and subsidies.
“Dubai is a melting pot of cultures,” he said. “That is why the 300-odd people working onscreen and behind are from different nationalities.”
“People can expect to see a spectrum of emotions, stunning visuals and locations while the music is a treat to the ears,” Khan continued.
A creation of Beeline Productions, “Yaara Vey” is directed by Manish Pawar, an Indian filmmaker who has previously done successful projects for Zee 5 and Amazon Prime.
The writer of the film promised that “audiences will get breathtaking views of Dubai” and see “how truly cosmopolitan it is.”
Among its several strengths, she added, were the vocals of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who has a massive fan following in South Asia.
