Free Download Film Khalid Bin Wa
Iberio Ralda
Of 12 filmmaking teams on the 2019 iFeatures intake, In Camera was one of only two without a producer attached. Mary Burke, then senior executive at the BFI Film Fund which backed iFeatures with BBC Film, introduced Khalid to Juliette Larthe of UK company Prettybird. Although Burke left the BFI in 2020, the Film Fund provided 100,000 in pre-production and 950,000 in production funding for the film, plus 35,000 through its Step Up initiative for crew from underrepresented backgrounds, as part of a total budget around 2m.
The relationship then became cyclical: with that additional funding attached, Burke came back to the film as a producer through her new company Public Dreams, six months before the six-week shoot began in spring 2022.
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Free SpiritDirectorEmil NavaProducerAmy James, Benjamin Pugh, Emil Nava, Gabriela Revilla LugoScreenplayAdam DaSilva, David James, Emil Nava, Khalid RobinsonMusic byKhalidStudioTrafalgar ReleasingCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishRelease dateApril 3, 2019LocationLos Angeles, California, United StatesRuntime45 minutesRatingRFree Spirit is a short film directed by Emil Nava, featuring R&B singer Dizzy Fae and actor Judah Lang. It was released on April 3, 2019, in companion to Khalid's album under the same title. The plot focuses on three friends, who become embroiled in a love triangle.
In February 2019, Khalid announced the upcoming film.[1] In an interview he said, "I felt like videos are cool, but for me Free Spirit is so cinematic. [The album] sounds like a movie. Why not make it a movie?"[2]
Conceived and created by Khalid and Emil Nava, Free Spirit is a direct creative parallel to Khalid's new album, using the new music to tell the stories of the beauty and the pain of growing up as Khalid has always done in his work. This film expands on his lyrics and artistry by sharing a visual story as a companion piece.
Veerappan: Shut up you fool, I rather used to like Suneil Shetty and I adored Lisa Ray in the music video Aafreen Aafreen something something. If Sachiin is like Suneil, I want to see the film. (Calling out to henchguys) Pirated DVD mangao!
Cinema became another life. It was always there. If I didn't see one film a week, I felt there was something missing. My grandmother was also a film buff. My grandfather had two theaters, National and Nishat, in one of the red light areas of Bombay. I'd go there with the servants and the neighborhood kids. I have all these crazy memories of my childhood. One of the first images I have of myself is going off to the movies in a Dodge car with my driver and servant. It was a unique experience for a kid. The theaters were all in Lamington road or Grant road. The area was called Peela House, a distortion of the word Playhouse. My driver and servant used to be very friendly with the naachnewaalis [dancing girls]. They had dates with women, the women would join them at the movies, at times there would be visits to the naachnewaali homes and I'd listen and watch, not quite sure about what was going on. I had all these provocative experiences while growing up. There were two parallel tracks going on . . . one in life and...
Sadia Khalid Reeti is a film critic and screenwriter. She studied Screenwriting at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She has also worked as an entertainment journalist in Dhaka and Los Angeles since 2012. Currently the cultural editor of Dhaka Tribune, Sadia has served as a jury member at different international film festivals in Italy, India, England, Nepal, France, Russia and Bangladesh. She served as a FIPRESCI jury at the Cannes Film Festival, International Film Festival of Kerala and Dhaka International Film Festival. A Berlinale Talent Press alumna, she attended mentorship programs with Film Independent and Locarno Open Doors. She also teaches film studies at different universities and institutions and is the recipient of Charles Wallace Fellowship from the British Council.
Technically Bollywood films were banned in Pakistan but they were everywhere. You could rent out the video cassettes wrapped in brown envelopes. If you didn't have a VCR, you could also rent one for the night.
I still thoroughly enjoy Indian films and am eager to catch new releases. In fact, in some ways my relationship with Bollywood has strengthened since moving to Canada. They become a way for me to connect with my childhood, my family, and even Pakistan.
This connection was deepened during the COVID lockdowns. My Friday evenings were and still are reserved for Indian films. The sights and sounds of movies shot in Delhi, Mumbai or other cities of India take me right back to my home in Lahore, or remind me of Karachi and other smaller cities in Pakistan.
But in recent years, particularly with the rise of Hindu nationalism in India, there has been a spike in hate crimes in the country. At the same time, there has been a shift toward incorporating Hindu nationalist discourse within the film industry.
It is also heartbreaking to see some of my favourite childhood stars now playing their role in perpetuating these narratives. Anupam Kher is a brilliant actor who was very much part of the relatively secular fabric of the Indian film industry of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and has played many Muslim roles that are not antagonist in the past.
Obviously, there are Bollywood films that are exceptions. Gully Boy (about Indian Muslim rappers), Haider (a Bollywood adaptation of Hamlet), and Shahid (based on the life of Muslim human rights activist) all have nuanced, remarkable depictions of Muslims.
Studies in Egypt have shown that HIV positive women are especially vulnerable to discrimination in the workplace, and lack of understanding from their families. Lack of educational resources, and abandonment by families and friends are confounded by neglect from the medical establishment, ultimately leading to a cycle of self-loathing, self-blame, and social isolation (Khattab et al 2007). The most relevant message of this film is that HIV should not be a taboo anymore. Egypt needs to move from a state of perpetuated myths borne out of ignorance to open minded informed debate and discussion. This is as true of the HIV debate as it is of the broader social and political debate.
The Red Circle is a documentary film by Tariq Ghani and Mehrab Khalid that explores the current state of Thalassemia in Balochistan. The film follows the stories of several individuals living with the disease, and highlights the struggles they face in accessing proper medical care and support. The film also looks at the broader social and economic implications of Thalassemia in Balochistan, and how it affects the lives of those living with the condition. The Red Circle is an important film that sheds light on the realities of living with Thalassemia in Balochistan and the need for greater awareness and support.
My latest documentary film, "The Red Circle," is a powerful exploration of the suffering of thalassemia patients and a comprehensive look at the data surrounding thalassemia around the world. This project has been a labor of love for me, taking two years to complete. Through this film, I hope to bring awareness to the issue of thalassemia and to inspire viewers to take action to help those affected by this devastating disease. I believe that "The Red Circle" will be an important and lasting contribution to the fight against thalassemia. By creating this film in the Balochi language, I am able to reach a wide audience in Balochistan and beyond, ensuring that everyone has access to the information they need to understand and combat thalassemia.
(Mehrab Khalid)