Description

DVD Available from 27th Jan

Available now to BFI Player Subscribers

Azra is worlds apart from her conservative muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Karachi, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined; from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in Canada.

1999, Azra (Amrit Kaur) travels from Toronto to Karachi after her father Hassan’s (Hamza Haq) sudden death, forcing her to confront her complicated relationship with her mother Mariam (Nimra Bucha).

The film flashes back to 1969 Karachi, portraying a booming, groovy period where the young Mariam (also played by Kaur) rebelliously pursues her own path in life. When a chance meeting with Hassan occurred, it was love at first sight.

In the modern-day storyline, Azra must navigate mourning her idealised late father while trying to understand her equally complex mother. It’s a story about intergenerational divides, culture clashes, and the messy reality of mother-daughter relationships.

While paying homage to the classic Bollywood film and song “Meri Sapno Ki Rani” (literally “The Queen of My Dreams”), the film’s heart lies in Fawzia Mirza’s very personal look at her own family dynamics and quest for self-discovery. The film is  insightful, joyful, and moving examination of South Asian identity.

Director / Writer: Fawzia Mirza

Stars: Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha, Hamza Haq,