First Indo-Pak-British film to focus on j

LAHORE: Paragon Pictures International has announced the production of Jarga, a satire of the parallel judicial system in Pakistan and the first film ever to be created through cooperation between Pakistan, India and Britain.

Paragon’s managing director Afzal Khan said at a news conference to launch the project, “The film will be directed by an Indian director, Shashi Lal Nair, and the music director will be Anand Subramanium. A Pakistani, Nasir Adeeb, has written the script while the lyrics will be by an Indian, Tuafeeq.” The film’s cast will be largely Pakistani, starring debut actors and actresses as well as singers from Pakistan. However, the music will be recorded in India. The film will be shot at Pakistan, India and Britain.

The film’s plot surrounds a poor decision by a Jarga which causes revolt. Mr Khan explains, “The film hits at the parallel judicial system. There should be only one judicial system in Pakistan.”

Mr Khan was reluctant to talk about the budget of Jarga. “We don’t have a budget as yet. We don’t fix a budget”, he said.

Britain based Pakistani producer previously announced he would be making a television series on women issues in Pakistan. He wanted to sell the series to the BBC. So far, however, there had been no news on the programme. Also reluctant to talk about his recently released film ‘Larki Punjaban’, Mr Khan did say, however, that ‘Larki Punjaban’ has been sold to Zee Productions in India.

Mr Khan was accompanied at the press conference by writer Nasir Adeeb and film producers Abdul Hafeez and Mohammed Bilal.