A story of hope, redemption and independence: JOSH to hit cinemas on Eid-Ul-Fitr
After screenings in India, UK and US, the much anticipated Indie film JOSH created by Pakistani director, producer and writer Iram Parveen Bilal, is set to premiere in Karachi end of July. Boasting an all-star cast, ‘JOSH’ is set to screen at all major cinemas and movie theaters across Pakistan this Eid-Ul-Fitr. Written, directed and produced by Iram Parveen Bilal, co-produced by Saad Bin Mujeeb and Kelly Thomas, the mystery thriller JOSH is based on an original script which is inspired by several real life events, including Parveen Saeed’s Khana Ghar and the concept of “erasing hunger to erase crime” which provides affordable meals to the underprivileged in and around Karachi’s slums.
The film tells the story of protagonist Fatima, played by Aamina Sheikh, a committed schoolteacher living the cosmopolitan high life in Karachi, who has her life shattered when her nanny Nusrat, played by Nyla Jaffri, inexplicably disappears. JOSH is the story of Fatima’s search, despite warnings from friends and family, for a dangerous truth which lies in Nusrat’s feudal village. The tagline of JOSH is Independence through Unity accompanied with the already famous dialogue “Azaadi manao 2 rupay main!”.
With a star-studded award-winning cast featuring Aamina Sheikh, Mohib Mirza, Khalid Malik, Navin Waqar, Khalid Ahmed, Parveen Akber, Nyla Jafri, Kaiser Khan Nizamani, Saleem Mairaj, Adnan Shah Tipu, Ali Rizvi, Faizan Haqquee, and more, JOSH tackles socio-political issues of class separation, feudalism, poverty, individual empowerment and women’s rights. It is a story of hope, of trying, of redemption. It is a story of the youth of Pakistan, of the pain, the pleasure and the spirit of unity and independence.
Speaking of JOSH, first time feature film director/writer and producer Iram Parveen Bilal said,
“From concept to production, it has been an amazing journey of 3 and a half years. This movie has been a passion project of ours and we are truly grateful for the time, resources and efforts put into the film by all individuals involved. JOSH celebrates the resolve of the human spirit; to never give up despite all odds. The movie depicts a story which is commonplace in Pakistan because it’s based on socio-political issues that are prevalent in rural areas. It also celebrates the empowered young generation of professionals that are increasingly playing an important role in the social and cultural dynamics of the country.”
An initiative by The Platform in Pakistan, JOSH is making waves in the international film community, being screened in the prestigious Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) in the World Cinema Category last year as the only fiction based Pakistani film to show at the festival in the last five years. JOSH was also one of only two narrative feature films picked for 2012’s prestigious Women in Film Finishing Fund. JOSH marks the feature film debut of Director Iram Parveen Bilal, who has achieved international recognition through several award-winning short films that she directed in the past.
