Ramchand Pakistani (2008)

A Project One production in association with JJ Media, Namak Films. (International sales: Namak Films, New York.) Produced by Javed Jabbar. Directed by Mehreen Jabbar. Screenplay, Mohammad Ahmed, based on a treatment by Javed Jabbar.



With: Nandita Das, Rashid Farooqui, Syed Fazal Hussain, Navaid Jabbar, Farooq Pario, Maria Wasti, Noman Ijaz, Adarsh Ayaz, Adnan Shah, Shahood Alvi, Atif Badar, Zhalay Sarhadi, Hasan Niazi. (Urdu, Hindi, English dialogue)

A Pakistani boy and his father accidentally cross the border and land in a packed Indian prison in the earnest drama "Ramchand Pakistani." Although director Mehreen Jabbar's feature debut boasts numerous assets, including beautiful cinematography, a splendid score and a compelling, near-wordless perf from gifted Indian actress Nandita Das as the woman who stubbornly waits for her men folk, these fail to compensate for problems of tone. Pic's curiosity value (the first from a female Pakistani helmer, possibly the first in which central characters are Pakistani Hindus) should earn it further fest play, with best bets for viewing in ancillary.

Pic opens in 2002, a time of increased tensions between Pakistan and neighbor India. Lyrical camerawork establishes a thatched-hut village in the Thar desert, where obnoxiously willful 8-year-old Ramchand (Syed Fazal Hussain) lives with his beautiful, illiterate mother Champa (Das), farmer father Shankar (Rashid Farooqui) and other tenant workers of their "untouchable" Dalit caste. In a fit of temper, the disobedient lad carelessly crosses the invisible line of control between nations and is nabbed by Indian soldiers. Searching for his son, Shankar is taken into custody as a Pakistani spy.

In Pakistan, where 97% of the population is Muslim, Ramchand's family falls at the bottom of the social, religious and economic hierarchies. When Shankar's brother (Farooq Pario) tries to file a missing-persons report, the Pakistani officials are less than helpful.

Tonal problems increase as the narrative alternates between prison, where father and son languish for some five years, and Champa's backbreaking servitude to their landlord in order to pay off the family's debts. Seen from Ramchand's p.o.v., the depiction of prison life starts as brutal cliche but winds up sanitized sitcom, not helped by mostly affectless playing from Hussain and Farooqui.

Meanwhile, Das, clad in colorful peasant costumes, manages to look fetching throughout her hardships. Helmer Jabbar, an experienced Pakistani TV director, floods Das' scenes with gorgeous camerawork, elaborate art direction and soaring score.

Although the plot deals with the hostilities of old enemies Pakistan and India, pic's realization involved considerable cooperation between the two nations, ranging from talent to technicians to government offices. Like lead actress Das, editor Aseem Sinha, composer Debajyoti Mishra and singer Shubha Mudgal (whose haunting vocals are featured on the score) are also vets of the Indian industry.

Camera: (color, HD) Sofian Khan
Editors: Aseem Sinha, Mehreen Jabbar
Music: Debajyoti Mishra
Production designer: Aqeel Ur Rehman
Sound: (Dolby Digital) Jesse James Mailings
Associate producer: Mariam Mukaty
Assistant director: Mohammed Ahmed
Reviewed at: Tribeca Film Festival (competing) April 28, 2008.
Running time: 105 MIN.
Download Songs: HERE