Loosely inspired by Qandeel Baloch, ‘Wakhri’ to premiere at RSFF

KARACHI: Filmmaker Abid Aziz Merchant couldn’t contain his excitement as his thought-provoking movie Wakhri earned a prestigious spot at the Red Sea Film Festival (RSFF).

Taking to Instagram, Merchant shared a trailer for Wakhri by stating:  “We’re incredibly honored to have our film, Wakhri, representing our region, selected to compete at the RSFF. It’s an incredible opportunity to be alongside talented peers and artists who, like us, are breaking boundaries and redefining cinema. Congratulations to all our fellow filmmakers.”

According to Variety, the movie sheds light on the constant struggle women face to assert their rights and presence, both in physical and online spaces, drawing inspiration from the tragic story of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch, who was murdered in 2016 by his own brother for being outspoken.

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Wakhri boasts a star-studded cast that includes Faryal Mehmood, Gulshan Majeed, Saleem Mairaj, Sohail Sameer, and Shees Sajjad Gul. Additionally, the movie features musical talents such as Ali Sethi, Meesha Shafi, Eva B, Natasha Noorani, and more.

Notably, it includes special appearances from Mathira, Khalid Malik, and Waseem Hassan Sheikh. Wakhri stands as a testament to the region’s cinematic artistry, and its recognition at the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation is a well-deserved honour.

Directed by US-Pakistani director Iram Parveen Bilal, Wakhri delves into the story of a widowed school teacher in Pakistan who unwittingly becomes a viral sensation due to her outspoken social media views.

As the movie competes at the prestigious RSFF, it is set to meet its eagerly anticipated audience soon, promising an exceptional viewing experience that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.

Check out the trailer of Qandeel Baloch inspired movie below.