In an exclusive interview with You! Huma Jamil Babar, the mastermind behind ‘Umro Ayyar’, shares her journey with our readers. Read on...
interview
The film industry has evolved in many ways over the past decade. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the filmmaking and cinema industry since the beginning of 2020. The future of filmmaking is all about creating immersive and interactive experiences for the audience. Technology has revolutionised the entire filmmaking process, enhancing every aspect from production to distribution. Cinematography techniques have been vastly improved with the advent of digital cameras, enabling filmmakers to capture high-quality footage with greater flexibility and affordability. ‘Umro Ayyar - A New Beginning’ is a Pakistani science fiction fantasy film, directed by Azfar Jafri and written by Atif Siddique.
The film is based on the Persian-Urdu novel character Umro Ayyar from Hamzanama. The film is produced by Huma Jamil Babar under the banner of VR Chili Production. In an exclusive interview with You! Huma Jamil Babar, the mastermind behind ‘Umro Ayyar’, shares her journey with our readers. Read on...
What inspired you to venture into film production?
I was a lawyer, advocating for human and women’s rights, but I wanted more. I realised that my message wasn’t reaching far enough. I needed a wider audience, so, I chose media as my new platform. After discussing ideas with my children and their friends, I discovered that sci-fi films and comic characters resonated deeply with today’s generation. This sparked my decision to create a film in the same genre. I told Atif to build a story around the iconic character Umro Ayyar, and that’s how my filmmaking journey began.
What drew you to Umro Ayyar as the subject of your film?
Two factors drew us to Umro Ayyar. First, his name, his timeless character, and legendary status resonates deeply with audiences of all ages. His classic stories, familiar since childhood, made it the ideal choice for our sci-fi film. Secondly, we sought to break away from traditional love stories and gender stereotypes. Umro Ayyar’s character allowed us to create a narrative where all characters, regardless of gender, play pivotal roles.
How did you handle the VFX process?
For Umro Ayyar’s visual effects, we enlisted a skilled team from Hollywood. Given the extensive VFX requirements, we established our own state-of-the-art VFX studio in Islamabad, where the Hollywood team worked on most of the film’s shooting and post-production VFX.
Will the studio serve beyond Umro Ayyar?
Absolutely, the studio will be used for our upcoming projects. We also invite other filmmakers, both local and international, to utilise the facility. This will help us optimise production costs.
Can you walk us through the film’s production process? The idea for ‘Umro Ayyar’ struck me in 2019, and I began working on the project that same year. Then, Covid-19 hit the world. Despite that, we began shooting, taking extensive precautions to ensure the safety of our 300-person crew. Thankfully, no one contracted Covid during filming. Shooting during the pandemic had its advantages. With minimal global activity, our international team from Hollywood could focus solely on our project without interruptions or time constraints. However, the completion process took considerable time due to the sci-fi genre’s demands on editing, VFX (visual effects), and post-production. The film finally released in June 2024.
Does the title, ‘Umro Ayyar: The New Beginning’ hint at more installments?
Exactly! We have already released a teaser poster at Comic-Con San Diego, announcing the prequel ‘Umro Ayyar: The King of Trickster’. This film explores the back story of Umro Ayyar. Inspired by Hollywood’s prequel and sequel approach, we are expanding the Umro Ayyar universe.
Will the next installment retain the same cast and direction team?
That’s a surprise! We’re keeping the cast and crew details under wraps for now.
Do you have other projects in the pipeline?
Yes, we have several projects in development, including web series and films. Our upcoming projects include ‘Umro Ayyar: The King of Trickster’, ‘Saif-ul-Malook’, a film, and ‘Iqbal’, a project in its initial phase which could be a movie or series. We have two more projects in pipeline; ‘Princess of Hope and The Chasers’. We are working on it but the priority is to release the prequel of ‘Umro Ayyar’.
How will you recoup investments in science fiction films amid Pakistan’s cinema landscape?
We are targeting the international market. While we have received positive feedback locally, our films also attract international audiences curious about Pakistan’s cinematic capabilities. The film participated in the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF), held in Saudi Arabia. The film was praised for being a visual treat and a good introduction to Pakistan’s first superhero.
Any TV projects planned?
Not currently, but possibly in future.
As a producer, what has your experience been like making films in Pakistan?
Producing films in Pakistan is incredibly challenging due to lack of industry infrastructure and government support. Each project requires starting from scratch without any systemic assistance.
Did you face specific difficulties as a female producer in Pakistan?
I didn’t let my gender define my experience. I focused on my strong willpower and intention to succeed. As the producer and financier of my own project, I possibly faced fewer challenges. However, I acknowledge that others in filmmaking may face difficulties due to gender.
Do you have any memorable incidents from the Umro Ayyar shoot?
One notable incident stands out. After wrapping up our shoot at an under-construction building, we mistakenly left behind massive statues used in the shoot. To our surprise, they appeared in a music video just days later. It turned out the music video producers had shot at the same location and used our statues. We retrieved them, but - our props had been revealed before our film’s release.
