Don't waste your hatred!
LOGLINE
Arsalan returns to Karachi, the city of his birth, to investigate the violent death of his younger brother blamed on religious extremists. In the ensuing days he discovers that city he left as a fugitive has become at the same time more extremist and globally connected.
THE STORY
The title, Kala Pul, derives from a bridge in Karachi which connects the affluent parts of the city to the lower income areas. The protagonist grew up under the shadows of the Kala Pul, caught between the haves and have-nots – a world of MTV inspired ‘burgers’ (westernized youth) and the other of the left behind fodder for the Kalashnikov culture.
Kala Pul is not for the faint hearted. It molds its concerns around universal social factions found in any harsh city, like Rio de Janeiro, Bombay or Los Angeles. It brings together the problems of expatriates, artists, militants and religious minorities. The plot then lunges the cast into a geo-political thrill ride, while weaving an account of the protagonist chasing his brother’s killer.
GENRE
Political Thriller.
Length (in pages) 100
TARGET AUDIENCE
The internationally sophisticated, thinking filmgoer who desires to see struggle for life in a socially and politically divided Muslim country.
REFERENCE FILMS
Exploration of relevant themes including political and religious miltantism, proliferation of global culture, crime and corruption. Karachi is topical these day and the location forA Mighty Heart, Michael Winterbottom's portrayal of Daniel Pearl story starring Angelina Jolie.
– Tsotsi,Oscar Best Foreign Language Film, Johannesburg, $9 mil
– City of God,Oscar Nomination, Rio De Janeiro, $27 mil
– Oldboy, Cannes Grand Jury prize, Seoul, $14.8 mil
- Paradise Now,PalestineTerritory, Oscar nomination, $3.3 mil
– I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead,London, Moscow Film Festival
– Company, Bombay, Film Fare Award
Contact: Saqib Mausoof