Pakistan has selected Mah-e-Meer as entry for the best foreign movie category at the 89th Academy Awards.
Directed by Anjum Shahzad and produced by Khurram Shahzad.
The film, though not a commercial success, was appreciated by critics for attempting to break away from the typical, meaningless flounce that crowds local cinemas. Starring Fahad Mustafa, Iman Ali, Sanam Saeed and Manzar Sehbai, Mah-e-Meer revolves around the life of a struggling contemporary poet who identifies with the great Urdu poet Meer Taqi Meer and takes you on an elusive, dream-like journey through the past and present of Urdu poetry and literature.
Given that the first half of 2016 was rather dull for local cinema, Mah-e-Meer’s selection doesn’t come as much of a surprise. However, one can’t help but wonder why Manto, another classic, hard-hitting product of Pakistan’s new wave of cinema, failed to land the opportunity. Last year, Sarmad Khoosat’s biopic on the controversial Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto was left out of the race as it released after the cut-off date on September 13th.
Mah-e-Meer was released in May, 2016 but did not live up to box office expectations despite receiving positive.