The News On Sunday: Tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to become a filmmaker.

Moiz Abbas: I was born and raised in Karachi. I got admission in the National College of Arts, Lahore, but had to leave my undergraduate studies after the second semester.

My extended family has several media professionals — people who’re associated with film, radio and newspapers — but for a long time I was unaware of this. Later, however, they did inspire me to step into the industry.

Initially, I was more interested in acting, but I only got to play minor roles. I realised then that acting wasn’t meant for everyone, and that it requires specialised training and experience. This was when I decided to get into production and direction.

TNS: Which projects are you most proud of? Also, tell us about the awards you’ve received so far?

MA: I recently had the opportunity to work with Nadia Afghan on a TV drama. Later, I learnt that she had spoken of me in highly flattering terms. She told my boss that after Sarmad Khoosat she had found me the most professional and dedicated. Her words meant a lot.

Fruit Chaat getting recognition in the international film community was incredible. The packed screenings and the response of the audiences left me dazed.

So far I’ve received awards at the Zee5 Global Content Festival 2022 (India), Zee5 Global Content Festival 2020-2021 (India), Muslim International Film Festival 2021 (Canada), Gandhara Independent Film Festival 2022 (Pakistan) and Women’s International Film Festival 2020 (Pakistan).

TNS: If you were to describe Keh do and Fruit Chaat in a few words, what would you say?

MA: The theme of Keh do is positivity. We produced it amid the pandemic when a lot of people were losing hope. It’s motivational.

Fruit Chaat, on the other hand, is unique in that it shows how a hijab or a wheelchair don’t stop you from achieving big things in life. It focuses on women empowerment and education, and promotes a positive image of the physically impaired.

TNS: Considering that Fruit Chaat was filmed over the course of a single day, what were the challenges?

MA: When you set out to create something like that, some challenges are inevitable. No one was willing to sponsor the film, and I didn’t have the funds to run the show by myself. We needed to shoot at five different locations in a single day. Since I am Karachi-based and the shoot was in Lahore, we couldn’t even overstay at the hotel because then our budgets would’ve gone haywire.

Finding the actors, auditioning them and training them to be able to perform the very next morning was another big challenge.

TNS: What is the significance of your movie title, Fruit Chaat?

MA: Well, fruit chaat is a sort of a dessert which has many flavours, colours and ingredients -quite like life itself.

TNS: Would you be willing to attribute the success of Fruit Chaat to its unconventional theme?

MA: One of the biggest factors that led to the film’s success was a woman in a wheelchair wearing hijab. But we must also give credit to the content because it highlights several issues in a light-hearted manner.

Also, the fact that we were able to project her in a positive light — as someone who is differently-abled but not disabled — played a major role.

TNS: Is there a particular reason why Pakistani producers and digital platforms rejected your flagship projects?

MA: Despite not being commercial, Fruit Chaat gained so much recognition and positive feedback that everyone realised that such content has a place in the industry. Eventually, we were contacted by the producers, channels and platforms that had earlier rejected the project.

I don’t hold any grudges. But I’d definitely make a suggestion: if someone approaches you with a new idea, at least give them a listen.

There’s been a shift in the kind of content people want to see. We may not have got the rejections if our project had an item number or a candy floss romance.

TNS: Do you believe that filmmakers undermine their role as change makers, and play safe when it comes to the choice of subjects?

MA: In our country, only commercial stuff sells. Indeed, that’s why we call it commercial. We rarely find films that are designed to affect social change, even though we know that cinema has the power to mould human psyche or at least offer us a fresh perspective on things.

The Pakistani film industry need to work harder to produce films that are socially relevant. Often, taboos are not taboo. Take the example of the [Bollywood mainstream movie] Padman; it’s a movie that attempts to raise awareness about sanitary pads and personal hygiene. I am also working on a film with a similar theme, which I think is taboo in our society. But it’s a natural biological phenomenon that we are looking at.

TNS: What do you have to say about the ban on Zee5 app’s subscription in Pakistan? How will it impact our artists?

MA: I find it absurd that Zee5 should have been banned in Pakistan solely because a series, Dhoop Ki Deewar, told a cross-border love story. Zee5 is a huge digital platform. We should realise that [Zee5] is only getting us recognition in a much larger market, and they are doing it by showing us due respect. The good part is that the ban hasn’t discouraged them from future collaborations with us. But we ought to understand that such co-productions will benefit Pakistan too.

Banning Zee5 was a terrible idea also because art cannot and must not be confined within boundaries or borders. Art unites people. I appeal to the government of Pakistan, the PTA, and all those involved in this decision to remove the ban as soon as possible. Otherwise, you are guilty of stifling artistic freedom.

TNS: Filmmaking requires a lot of expertise and patience. What keeps you motivated? Any advice you’d like to give to aspiring filmmakers?

MA: A filmmaker’s role is very challenging, because he is responsible for putting together the entire show. This includes handling the actors, the producer(s), the crew members etc. To succeed in this, he must be a patient person.

Sadly, there’s a problem with most aspiring directors, as I see it — they lack patience. Granted that the job is highly stressful, you should always be in the right state of mind in order to be able to oversee all the departments of filmmaking.

TNS: What kind of projects do you see yourself becoming attached to in the future?

MA: Having made short films on human rights, women empowerment and education, I want to move on to narrative. TV drama is a safe business deal in Pakistan, so that’s what I’m doing right now. I am also working on a Fruit Chaat sequel.

As you may know, I recently worked with Mehwish Hayat and HSY on a telefilm. Besides, I am working on a play for a private channel; it stars Zaviyar Naumaan, Yashma Gill, Usama Khan and Hiba Bukhari.

The writer is a freelance contributor