Pakistani film Javed Iqbal, banned in Pakistan from screening, has bagged two awards at the 24th UK Asian Film Festival.
The film is based on the real-life events of notorious serial killer Javed Iqbal in Lahore who confessed to killing and sexually abusing more than a hundred young boys between 1998 to 1999. He was later arrested and sentenced to death. Iqbal committed suicide while in police custody.
The movie has been banned from screening in Pakistan but bagged two awards- “Best Actor” and “Best Director.” The movie is the adaptation of the Urdu novel ‘Kukri’ written by Abu Aleha who is also the director of the movie.
Actor Yasir Hussain who is usually known for his comical roles has played the titular character in the movie. Actress Ayesha Omar played the character of a Police officer in the movie. Yasir Hussain expressed joy while speaking to Pakistani media at the festival. He said it is a matter of pride not only for him but for Pakistan too that a Pakistani movie had been selected to open the UKAAF.
https://twitter.com/ShahjeeTweets_X/status/1525859432688537600?s=20&t=Ui2H2v4I3MfvCFAXd4ptrQ
برٹش فلم انسٹی ٹیوٹ کے آڈیٹوریم میں جاوید اقبال کا دکھائے جانا بھی مجھ جیسے عامی کے لئے ایک اعزاز ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/NxvX8aM6oW
— Abu Aleeha (@abualeeha) May 4, 2022
Congratulations one of my favorite writer, now Film Director @abualeeha and best wishes for more success & winnings.
Film ‘Javed Iqbal’ banned by Pak censor board, bags two awards in UK Asian Film Festival.
Best Director & Best Actor ✌️ @yasirhussain131 pic.twitter.com/781QYySPdB— Tauqeer Ali (@tqr4u) May 16, 2022
Hussain called his role in the movie the most challenging role so far in his career. “It was a very complex character of such a person who has murdered so many innocent kids. The reason that it was an extremely difficult role to play was that you have to think like him so that you can portray a true character of that person”.
Read more: China to screen Pakistani dramas & films
The actor added that in real life he is nowhere near to the character he has played in the movie.
“Every actor loves to do these types of characters, especially the one who has also worked in the theatre industry for many years is always looking for challenging roles like this character,” said Yasir Hussain while speaking to Geo News.