“I have done 328 films and have never seen a producer or director treating any woman disrespectfully.” | Film

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INSTEP Interview

Muammar Rana is making a comeback this Eid, that too as a patriotic offering, a freedom mujahid in freedom. He is returning to the screen after nearly four years, when he felt that the common ground of Lollywood, of which he was part and parcel, had become too vulgar for his liking. “There was a lot of shit,” he admits, adding that he saw no point in doing movies he couldn’t watch with his daughters.

We caught up with him to discuss his all-new return to the film industry that had just emerged. Things had definitely changed and he had strong opinions – some positive and others not so flattering – of the way they were evolving. He also explained why he has walked away from certain films, because they are at an uncomfortable level of vulgarity. Interestingly, Lollywood was still active, he explained, and was operating in very unorthodox ways. While Azadi is his big-banner film with Sonia Hussain, he has another film – Market – releasing on Eid, and strangely, his face is on the poster of the third film, Peeshi Gujran Di. In which he has not even been cast. We talked about all these and more…

Instep: Can we call this your comeback film?

Muammar Rana: I quit films four years ago. There was a lot of dirt. What I saw on the screen, I was not at all okay with. I have daughters, so I don’t really see the point in doing films that I can’t enjoy with my kids.

Instep: What movie made you feel that way?

MR: There was a movie called Sinner. It dealt with the issue of child abuse and the story I was told was solid but turned out to be complete nonsense.

Step: So you signed up for Freedom?

MR: Yes, then I signed up for freedom. When I was offered the role, I was confused, because I had never done anything like this before. Portraying a Mujahid is very difficult. You have to get this feeling. Although I am a very patriotic person, I started watching videos on YouTube and here and there to get a feel for the character. Whatever India is doing in Kashmir, it gradually entered my personality and finally I said yes to the role.

Instep: This film is obviously a formula film like your last patriotic film Siya Khuda Zul Jalal, which didn’t do too well. Do you think there is a market for such films?

MR: Of course, there is. You know what India is doing and the world is watching it on television but they are denying it and claiming that everything is fine. I read people’s comments on YouTube under our trailer. He said that he wants peace and friendship and does not want such films. But then India is also making films like Phantom and Border, right? So when they can make them, why can’t we? There is not a single abusive or hateful comment against India in the film. We have only shown what they are doing in Kashmir and know it very well. Things are not peaceful there.”

Instep: Coming to Pakistani cinema, you have worked in classic Lollywood and now in a new age film. What are the main differences between the two?

MR: “Technology has made a huge difference I feel. Cameras, sound and all your post-production work. I’m very happy for that.

Instep: Isn’t the storytelling technique also different?

MR: You know, there is a difference between drama and film. You have to shoot 300 scenes for a drama and the whole process is light but in a film it has to be fast because you have a time frame of 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete it and convey the story to the audience. is You have 6 months to entertain people in a play.

Instep: Have you seen any recently released Pakistani movies?

MR: I saw Strangers and I liked it quite a bit. In fact, I like the director who made it. He is young and ambitious.

Instep: Cinema structure has changed from standalone to multiplex. Do you think people are watching these movies?

MR: They won’t watch all these movies. They saw Jawani Phir Nahi Aani and they really enjoyed the movie but they didn’t see Cake because they didn’t relate to it. It belongs to 5 per cent of our people, the Burgher class, while 95 per cent are the masses. Let me give you an example. People, not class, make heroes. If you go to watch a live cricket match, the number of VIP seats will be less than the 37,000 to 40,000 seats that are easily available in large audiences. And these are our people.

Instep: Will the people see freedom?

MR: They will definitely see freedom. I’m telling you because they have a hero in it.

Instep: Do you ever see yourself doing a movie like Cake or Motorcycle Girl?

MR: “If I’m offered a film like Cake, why not? I’ll do it because one has to move with time. Take Amitabh Bachchan for example – he’s a hero to the masses and what would he change himself for?” 100 crores was one of the films that people wanted, which did not open for five years, and after that, Salman Khan never looked back.

Step: What is love in freedom? Why should audiences watch it?

MR: It is patriotism and hunger for freedom. Whatever is happening in Kashmir, I am fighting it and I want to know who is with me in this battle. There are some fight sequences but not only that… it also has a romantic angle. The biggest problem for me was that even if I was doing a romantic scene, I did it with a serious face, because I was very much into my character.

Instep: And what was Sonia like as a costar?

MR: She was really nice. Initially, there was a problem because he is from a TV background and has a completely different mindset, which was more towards parallel cinema. And I am all for commercial cinema. In between, we had issues where we would shoot a scene and she would say it was getting too filmy so I had to tell her it was a film, not a drama. The other people on the set were not more comfortable than I was at first. They would be afraid of me, I realized. Gradually, I had to sit them down and tell them that we had to work together. That’s how we got in. Even Sonia took a few days and then we were fine. She is a good actor.

Instep: The conversation these days is around gender and equality and sexual harassment in the workplace. Actresses of the past suggest that the treatment they received was worse than what you see or hear today. Is this true?

MR: No, I don’t think that’s quite true. As for me, I have always respected them. The producers also gave him respect. If it was mine, it was to be mine, Saima, always Saima Begum or Madam. I have done 327 or 328 films and I have never seen any producer or director being mean or disrespectful to anyone, so it is completely wrong for anyone to say that.

Instep: What are your plans after independence? What else is in the pipeline for you?

MR: I have signed two untitled films. And I will start working on them after Eid. Also, my wife has planned a film and I plan to direct it…she will be the producer.