Pakistani film Saawan to be the country's official entry for Oscars' Best Foreign Language Film

The Academy Awards hold a special place for every filmmaker and artiste across the globe. Taking the golden statuette home is a fantasy and dream for anyone associated with cinema. [caption id=“attachment_4060083” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Poster of Pakistani film, Saawan. Image via Facebook/ Pakistani Cinema[/caption] For filmmakers operating out of the South Asian subcontinent, the Best Foreign Language Film award is their gateway to international glory. This year a Pakistani film named Saawan has been chosen as the country’s official entry for the foreign language film category. The selection has been done by the Pakistan Academy Selection Committee, reports Variety, in one of its pieces. According to the film’s official synopsis, “Saawan is the story of a handicapped 9-year old boy, abandoned in a desolate valley in the mountains of Balochistan. The boy is rejected by his father, intimidated by society, harassed by friends and left alone in a valley in the scorching heat to die, due to his disability. Strengthened by memories and dreams of the love of his mother, he begins a perilous journey back to his family in the main city.” The film, based on true events, has been helmed veteran film and TV director Farhan Alam and is backed by US-based physician Mashood Qadri under the banner of Kalakar Films. Saawan is edited by Aseem Sinha, who has many Bollywood films to his credit, including Shyam Benegal’s 2001 film Zubeidaa, starring Karisma Kapoor, Manoj Bajpayee and Rekha. The Pakistani film has already won hearts and awards at numerous film festivals around the world. Some of its feats include the best foreign language award at the Madrid International Film Festival, and the best film and the best director awards at the Social World Film Festival in Naples, Italy, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The Academy Awards for next year is slated to be held on 4 March, 2018.