Fahim Burney is known for making social and romantic TV serials with emotional plots and beautiful cast. In his career spanning multiple decades he has worked with several rising stars, like Ayesha Omer, Saba Qamar, Sohai Ali Abroo and Mehwish Hayat. The prolific director has also tried his luck at the silver screen in 2003 with ‘Pyar Hi Pyar Mein’, starring all new faces. The film could not perform well at the box office due to several issues, but he got credit for making a film at the time of film industry’s downfall. Since then he has restricted himself to the small screen only.
Pakistani Film Industry has revived in last few years and many veteran and new filmmakers are making films to give an identity to the new-age cinema in Pakistan. Fahim Burney is also returning to the silver screen after a long hiatus of 14 years with a romantic comedy titled ‘Love, London, Sialkot’ starring ravishing Sohai Ali Abroo. The film is expected to go to floor by end of this year and may release next Summer.
We caught up with the director to know about the film’s story and other details. Talking about the film’s genre, he said, “‘Love, London, Sialkot’ is a family-oriented comedy. The purpose of making a lighthearted comedy is to show soft side of Pakistan to the world. Pakistan is stereotyped as a terrorist country and the world is unfamiliar with it as a festive place full of happy people.”
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‘Love, London, Sialkot’ is another romantic comedy in making, featuring a big fat Punjabi wedding happening in a small village near Sialkot. The family of the boy is arrived from London to wed him with a Punjabi girl in an arranged marriage. Despite living in a small village, the family is quite open-minded. “The perception of the boy about the girl changes when they meet and fall in love”, Fahim Burney told.
We asked him about why the film is particularly based in Sialkot, a small town of Punjab, to which he replied, “The film’s idea was originated in Sialkot so its very much that city’s story. This could have been based in any other city of Punjab, as the culture is same everywhere, but I felt it right to make it in Sialkot. It is set in a village nearby Sialkot where relatives from other cities of the country, like Lahore, Multan and Karachi, arrive to attend the wedding. It shows the hospitality and cross-culture of our people.”
Sohai Ali Abroo is playing the female lead in ‘Love, London, Sialkot’, whereas the rest of the cast has not been finalized yet. The team is searching for the second female lead for which they have shortlisted three names and considering a British Pakistani actress to play the character. The male lead is also yet to be finalized.
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The script of the film is co-written by Fahim Burney with the help of a panel of writers. He cleared the air on renowned drama writer Faiza Iftikhar writing the film script. Burney said that she is the creative head of the project. She did not write the whole script of the film but oversaw and reviewed the work of the panel. He argued that the experience of writing for the big screen is different from that of the small screen. “It is the director’s vision which separates a film from a drama”, he said.
Fahim Burney also talked about the setback of his first big screen venture, he said, “I made ‘Pyar Hi Pyar Mein’ in 2003 with new faces at that time when everyone was taking only known stars like Shaan, Reema and Meera in their films. Despite poor performance of the film, it ran for three months in cinemas. If it were made today then it would have been a hit.”
He stressed on introducing fresh talent in films, he said, “We should take new and fresh talent in films as it is a different medium than TV. Right now many famous TV actors are working in the films as well but that does not guarantee success. In ‘Love, London, Sialkot’, we signed Sohai Ali Abroo as she has not done much work on TV and has done couple of films before. She is the perfect choice for the character.”
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Fahim Burney also talked about the revival of cinema and challenges the industry is facing. He said, “We are making films for a particular market only and not for the masses. We need to make entertaining films which attract the masses and for that we also need mediocre cinemas affordable by a common man. Multiplexes are only for a niche audience.”
“Right now few people without any background of cinema are making senseless films which are disappointing the audience. Many people are losing money as they put them in the hands of senseless people. Films should be made by sensible people who have studied filmmaking and have a good experience of it”, he continued.
So what made you think to make another film now? He replied, “Right time. I think it is the right time for me to make another film. Its time when it touches my heart to try making a film again and I hope it turns out to be good as well.”
‘Love, London, Sialkot’ will be shot in London, Sialkot and also other parts of Pakistan. The film is expected to come out in 2018.
