Cross-border Connections

His first Pakistani film,Khuda Ke Liye (2007),made India sit up and take notice of the cinema being made in its neighbouring country. Now,Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah is getting ready for the release of his second,Zinda Bhaag.

The new film,in Punjabi and Urdu,has been directed by Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi. While the latter,from Pakistan,has been a journalist with the BBC and a documentary filmmaker,Gaur is of Indian origin. Born in Kolkata,the young documentary filmmaker moved to Pakistan a few years ago after she married Mazhar Zaidi,the producer of the film. Zinda Bhaag is Gaur and Nabi’s first fiction film together.

Based on the subject of illegal immigration,the film also addresses the disillusionment of the youth with their country. Shah plays a local tough,who also helps youngsters find their way out of the country.

Zinda Bhaag,completed early this year,is currently being edited and the makers released its first look poster on Monday. The release date has not been finalised but Zaidi said,“We are trying to release the film in both Pakistan and

India simultaneously.”