The New Nation - Internet Edition

Press Trust of India

One of the major achievements of the four-day South Asian Film Festival (SAFF), which comes to an end here on Monday, is taking shape of an inter-country joint venture film production.

Sri Lanka's filmmaker Buddhi Kirtisena, Pakistan's Siraj-ul-Haque, Tanveer Husseini from Bangladesh, Abdul Latifi from Afghanistan have joined hands to make a film which will in all probability be a love story traversing five countries in the South Asian region.

"From India, the director will be either Pooja Bhatt or Sudhir Mishra," Manoj Srivastav, CEO of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) said here on Monday. He said the story idea and concept is in a preliminary stage. "The story will follow the protagonist across the five countries. Each director will shoot in another country enabling him to catch a glimpse of it in his lenses from his perspective," he added.

According to Srivastav, the Indian director will shoot a 20-minute portion in Pakistan, Bangladesh filmmaker will film his part in India, Sri Lankan director will shoot in Bangladesh and Pakistani director may shoot in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan actress Khatera Yousufi will be one of the casts in the film. He said the Indian portion of the film would be shot in Goa. "ESG will provide all necessary help in terms of infrastructure to the project," he added. SAFF Goa has provided the filmmakers a platform to collaborate on newer ideas. "The process of executing the project is likely to take shape in two months time," he added.

When contacted, Pakistani filmmaker Siraj-ul-haque said the story idea was still in development stage. "We are yet to decide as to which country the protagonist will belong. It will be a love story which will track one person from the eyes of five different filmmakers belonging to five different countries," he added.

Afghani filmmaker Abdul Hameed Latifi told PTI that the script should be ready in two months time.

"We all have agreed to be in touch through email and discuss the story idea further. From India, in all probability, it will be Pooja Bhatt who will be on board. She is extremely interested in the concept and is based in Goa. Besides, the Indian portion will be shot in this state," he added.

Secretary General of South Asia Foundation Rahul Barua said the film would be produced under the banner of the foundation who will arrange for the funds. Latifi is extremely confident that the project will take shape and see the light of the day. "It is difficult but not impossible. A concrete idea should come up in about two months," he felt.