>Sc2353 at 21:22, 19 December 2020

2020-12-19T21:22:34Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent
| image = Azmaish- A Journey Through the Subcontinent.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Sabiha Sumar]]
| producer = Sathananthan Sachithanandam
| story =
| screenplay =
| starring = Sabiha Sumar<br />[[Kalki Koechlin]]
| music = Aamir Zaki
| editing = Martin Hoffmann
| cinematography = Claire Pijman<br />Peter Brugman<br />Mo Azmi
| studio = Vidhi Films
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|2017|8|9|df=y}} ([[Locarno Festival]])
| country = [[Pakistan]]<br />[[India]]
| runtime = 85 minutes
| language = Hindi, Urdu, English
| budget = {{USD}}240,000
}}

'''''Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent''''', alternatively known as '''''Azmaish: Trials of Life''''' is a 2017 [[independent film|independent]] [[documentary film]] directed by [[Sabiha Sumar]]. A Pakistani-Indian [[Co-production (media)|co-production]], it was produced by Sathananthan Sachithanandam of the Vidhi Films, and follows Sumar and [[Kalki Koechlin]]'s journey through various parts of India and Pakistan, and their exploration of the [[India–Pakistan relations|relations between the two countries]] and their contemporary political and sociocultural scenarios.

Sumar wanted to make a film on the changing sociocultural situation of the subcontinent since 2013. Her initial idea was selected for [[European Broadcasting Union]]'s 2015 Eurovision Documentary Group Meeting. The film attracted further investors in form of European television networks and pre-production work began in January 2016 when Koechlin visited Pakistan, having been invited by Sumar to work on the project. Filming for ''Azmaish'' was done in various parts of India and Pakistan in separate schedules, with Claire Pijman, Peter Brugman, Asad Faruqi, and Mo Azmi working as the [[director of photography|directors of photography]].

The film was stalled for a brief period in 2016 as the producers faced financial problems during post-production. Sumar organised two separate [[crowdfunding]] campaigns to raise money for the film's production budget, which was estimated at {{USD}}240,000. ''Azmaish'' was edited by Martin Hoffmann and its final cut ran for a total of 85 minutes. The film's music and background score was composed by Aamir Zaki.

''Azmaish'' had its world premiere on 9 August 2017 at the [[Locarno Festival]] in [[Switzerland]]. It was also screened at other such film festivals as the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] and the [[BFI London Film Festival|BFI London]]. The production received generally favourable reviews from film critics and the festival audience. ''Azmaish'' was released under the label of Vidhi Films; it was made available in DVD format in May 2018 and released on the website of the non-profit organisation [[Women Make Movies]].

== Synopsis ==
The film features Sumar and [[Kalki Koechlin]] and chronicles the journey undertaken by the duo through various parts of India and Pakistan. The duo explores the complex [[India–Pakistan relations|relations between India and Pakistan]]; they also interview politicians and civilians on both the countries in order to make sense of the contemporary political and sociocultural scenario.

== Cast ==
*[[Sabiha Sumar]]
*[[Kalki Koechlin]]

== Production ==
=== Development ===
{{quotebox
|width=25em
|align=left
|quote="This film is about two women [...] who go on an extraordinary journey across India and Pakistan to understand why people in our countries are turning to [[religious extremism]] for answers [and] explores these questions through the lives of ordinary people. Kalki and I travel far and wide, meeting people from all walks of life, trying to understand the pulse of our countries."
|source=  – [[Sabiha Sumar]] in 2016}}

[[Sabiha Sumar]] first thought of making a documentary on the changing sociocultural scenarios in Pakistan and India in 2013 as she wanted to "explore both countries and catch what is going on [''sic'']".<ref name="dawn">{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175633|title=Why did Sabiha Sumar rope in Kalki Koechlin for her documentary?|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|date=18 June 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707011143/http://images.dawn.com/news/1175633|archivedate=7 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="gogo">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/azmaish-trials-of-life-feature-length-documentary-india#/|title=Azmaish:Trials of Life Feature Length Documentary|publisher=[[Indiegogo]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626075152/https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/azmaish-trials-of-life-feature-length-documentary-india#/|archivedate=26 June 2018}}</ref> She was particularly intrigued by the [[religious extremism]] in the sub continent and its impact on the public mindset. Sumar felt that a documentary was the best medium for tackling the subject as it "needed real people talking about real life experiences"; according to her, a fictionalised account of things would not have been as powerful as the real life accounts.<ref name="mallya">{{cite web|url=http://indiannerve.com/kalki-koechlin-sabiha-sumar-talk-about-azmaish-their-upcoming-india-pakistan-documentary-24961/|title=Kalki Koechlin & Sabiha Sumar Talk About ‘Azmaish’, Their Upcoming India-Pakistan Documentary|last=Mallya|first=Aditya|work=Indian Nerve|accessdate=25 June 2018|date=27 January 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606213026/http://indiannerve.com/kalki-koechlin-sabiha-sumar-talk-about-azmaish-their-upcoming-india-pakistan-documentary-24961/|archivedate=6 June 2017}}</ref> The idea did not materialise until 2015, when it was selected for the [[European Broadcasting Union]]'s Eurovision Documentary Group Meeting. With the backing of the commissioning editors and professionals from the Union, Sumar was able to find investors for the project: the French-German networks [[Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen]] and [[Arte]], and the [[Danish Broadcasting Corporation]].<ref name="gogo" /><ref name="ary">{{cite web|url=http://arynews.tv/en/kalki-koechlin-teams-pakistani-filmmaker-documentary/|title=Kalki Koechlin teams up with Pakistani filmmaker in documentary|publisher=[[ARY News]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|date=18 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813001713/http://arynews.tv/en/kalki-koechlin-teams-pakistani-filmmaker-documentary/|archivedate=13 August 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Kalki Koechlin snapped at an ad shoot (2).jpg|thumb|upright|Koechlin (''pictured, 2016'') agreed to the project after meeting Sumar at the 2015 [[Mumbai Film Festival]].]]

Sumar met [[Kalki Koechlin]] at the 2015 [[Mumbai Film Festival]], where she was serving as the member of jury. She was looking for someone to collaborate with and felt that Koechlin "shared a similar level of curiosity". Sumar felt that it would be interesting to have for someone from India visit and explore Pakistan. Koechlin, for her part, was initially sceptic about the project as she felt that a journalist or research scholar would better suffice the demands of the documentary.<ref name="dawn" /> She agreed to the film nonetheless as she was intrigued by documentary's subject matter. Pre-production work began in January 2016, when Koechlin visited Pakistan. Photographs of her visiting Pakistani politician [[Sharmila Farooqi]] in [[Karachi]] drew media attention and led to speculations regarding the purpose of her visit.<ref name="speculation">{{cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175368|title=Revealed: Here's what Kalki was doing in Pakistan in January|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]|accessdate=26 June 2018|date=18 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403205856/https://images.dawn.com/news/1175368|archivedate=3 April 2017}}</ref> It was only when a large part of the film's Pakistan segment was filmed that Sumar formally announced the project through an interview with the ''[[Mumbai Mirror]]''; she also discussed the problems of funding the production and asked people to support the project's [[crowdfunding]] campaign.<ref name="mm">{{cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Kalkis-Pak-connection/articleshow/52318469.cms|title=Kalki’s Pak connection|last=Coutinho|first=Natasha|work=[[Mumbai Mirror]]|accessdate=26 June 2018|date=18 May 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113095746/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Kalkis-Pak-connection/articleshow/52318469.cms|archivedate=13 November 2017}}</ref>

=== Filming and post-production ===
Filming for ''Azmaish'' took place in varied locations in India and Pakistan including [[Mumbai]], [[Delhi]], [[Karachi]], [[Lahore]], and parts of [[Haryana]] and [[Sindh]], with Claire Pijman, Peter Brugman, Asad Faruqi, and Mo Azmi working as the [[director of photography|directors of photography]].<ref name="locations">{{cite web|url=https://www.wishberry.in/blog/a-documentary-that-aims-to-depict-india-and-pakistan-beyond-media-mystification-and-sensationalism/#/article|title=Azmaish, a film that compelled two women to set off on a journey to re-discover India and Pakistan|publisher=[[Wishberry]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|date=5 April 2017|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626075152/https://www.wishberry.in/blog/a-documentary-that-aims-to-depict-india-and-pakistan-beyond-media-mystification-and-sensationalism/#/article|archivedate=26 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="tiff">{{cite web|url=https://www.tiff.net/tiff/azmaish-a-journey-through-the-subcontinent/|title=Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent|last=Bailey|first=Cameron|publisher=[[Toronto International Film Festival]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120003450/http://www.tiff.net/tiff/azmaish-a-journey-through-the-subcontinent/|archivedate=20 November 2017}}</ref> While Sumar narrowed down the cities that she wanted to visit in Pakistan, Koechlin chose the Indian locales; they were assisted by a research team.<ref name="ary" /> Koechlin travelled to Pakistan for the first filming schedule in January 2016; the production team shot in the "deserts and mountains" in Sindh, Karachi and Islamabad during the period.<ref name="speculation" /> Koechlin recalled the day that the crew shot at a truck depot in Mauripur in an interview with [[Rajeev Masand]]: "people talked very openly [and there] was no animosity. We had ''[[Tea|chai]]'' with the [[Pathan]] drivers there. I had a great time."<ref name="dawn"/> The crew organised a fashion show at the depot, with models wearing dresses designed by Sanam Agha and Adnan Pardesi. Koechlin and Sumar talked to the models, the designers, and the truck drivers to get an insight into the "contradictions of modern Pakistan that coexist".<ref name="debpot">{{cite web|url=http://www.vidhifilms.com/sabiha/fashion-models-truck-drivers/|title=Fashion Models and Truck Drivers|publisher=Vidhi Films|date=26 May 2016|accessdate=26 June 2018}}</ref>

Other parts of the film were shot in India in a separate schedule. The crew visited Mumbai, [[Maharashtra]] where they filmed sections of the film in the local trains and celebrated the Hindu festival of ''[[Holi]]'' with the locals in the city. The remaining parts of the documentary were shot in the [[North India]]n states of [[Delhi]] and [[Haryana]].<ref name="locations"/> Sumar said that she never worked with a definitive story and had to improvise at numerous occasions when the team could not get permissions to shoot at planned locations.<ref name="wishberry">{{cite web|url=https://www.wishberry.in/campaign/azmaishtrials-of-life/#/campaign-new|title=Azmaish Trials of Life|publisher=[[Wishberry]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129043739/https://www.wishberry.in/campaign/azmaishtrials-of-life/#/campaign-new|archivedate=29 January 2017}}</ref> ''Azmaish'' was stalled for a brief period after the filming was completed. Having self-funded the project, with assistance from the European television networks, Sumar exhausted the film's initial budget of approximately {{USD}}200,000 during the filming process. Sumar said that she was pleased with the film's [[rough cut]] and felt that the "material [was] very rich". She also expressed her desire to have the film broadcast on European television networks and have a wide release in both India and Pakistan.<ref name="wishberry"/>

''Azmaish'' had to rely on separate crowdfunding campaigns to meet the production costs.<ref name="gogo" /><ref name="wishberry" /> After an unsuccessful attempt at financing the project through a campaign on the American crowdfunding website [[Indiegogo]], which raised a sum of {{USD}}8,393 of the required {{USD}}70,000, Sumar opened another similar operation on the Mumbai-based platform [[Wishberry]] and was able to raise {{INRConvert|2|m}} for post-production.<ref name="locations"/> Around 60% of the total money raised was contributed by people from India and Pakistan; the producers used [[social media]] and [[email marketing]] to encourage people to contribute to the campaign.<ref name="locations"/> Sumar told a Wishberry executive that she chose crowdfunding as the film "deals with something that is affecting every life in these two countries [...] when we ran out of funds and channels to get these funds from, it only made sense that we reach out to the people who this film is about". ''Azmaish'' was [[Film editing|edited]] by Martin Hoffmann and the [[sound mixing]] was done by Faiz Zaidi and Bhabani Mallik; the film's final cut ran for a total of 85 minutes. The film's music and background score was composed by Aamir Zaki.<ref name="tiff"/>

== Release ==
A one and a half minute teaser was released on 9 June 2016 on the official [[YouTube]] channel of Vidhi Films as a part of the promotions for the production's crowdfunding campaign.<ref name="teaser">{{cite web|url=http://www.vidhifilms.com/sabiha/azmaish-trials-life-teaser-2/|title=Azmaish/ Trials of Life Teaser|publisher=Vidhi Films|last=Rajasingam|first=Akshayan l|accessdate=26 June 2016|date=9 June 2016|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626075152/http://www.vidhifilms.com/sabiha/azmaish-trials-life-teaser-2/|archivedate=26 June 2018}}</ref> ''Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent'' premiered, as one of the official selections, at the [[Locarno Festival|70th Locarno International Film Festival]] on 9 August 2017.<ref name="world">{{cite web|url=http://www.vidhifilms.com/sabiha/world-premier-70th-locarno-film-festival/|title=World Premier at the 70th Locarno Film Festival!|publisher=Vidhi Films|date=8 September 2017|accessdate=25 June 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626075152/http://www.vidhifilms.com/sabiha/world-premier-70th-locarno-film-festival/|archivedate=26 June 2018}}</ref> The following month, the film had its North American premiere at the [[2017 Toronto International Film Festival|Toronto International Film Festival]]. It was also screened at other such film festivals in 2017 as the [[BFI London Film Festival|BFI London]] and the [[Filmfest Hamburg]].<ref name="wmm">{{cite web|url=http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c969.shtml|title=Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent|publisher=[[Women Make Movies]]|accessdate=25 June 2018|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625185352/http://www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c969.shtml|archivedate=25 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="hamburg">{{cite web |url=https://www.filmfesthamburg.de/en/programm/Film/29635/Azmaish |title=Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent |publisher=[[Filmfest Hamburg]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180629131918/https://www.filmfesthamburg.de/en/programm/Film/29635/Azmaish |archivedate=2018-06-29 |url-status=live |accessdate=27 June 2018 }}</ref> ''Azmaish'' was also supported by [[Women Make Movies]], a New York-based non-profit organisation which supports [[independent film|independent projects]] by women filmmakers; it was made available in DVD format for American audiences on the platform's website in May 2018.<ref name="wmm" /> The film was otherwise released under the label of Sumar and Sathananthan Sachithanandam's production and distribution house, Vidhi Films.<ref name="tiff"/>

===Reviews===
''Azmaish'' was well received by critics at its various premieres. Commentators were appreciative of Sumar and Koechlin for coming up with "astonishingly powerful results" while addressing the sensitive and controversial subjects of [[secularism]] and freedom.<ref name="bevan">{{cite web |last1=Bevan |first1=Henry |title=Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent BFI London Film Festival Review |url=http://culturefly.co.uk/azmaish-a-journey-through-the-subcontinent-bfi-london-film-festival-review/ |website=Culture Fly |accessdate=15 July 2018 |date=6 October 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{IMDb title|tt7210122}}

[[Category:2017 films]]
[[Category:Indian documentary films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Pakistani films]]
[[Category:Pakistani documentary films]]
[[Category:2017 documentary films]]

Azmaish: A Journey Through the Subcontinent - Revision history

>Sc2353 at 21:22, 19 December 2020