Zindagi Gulzar Hai fame, actors Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed will be starred in an upcoming web series, titled Barzakh, which will be screened at the Series Mania festival this year. It is interestingly the only feature shortlisted from South Asia to be premiered at the coveted event in France, in March 2023. A Zindagi original, the web series is directed by Asim Abbasi and bankrolled by Shailja Kejriwal.
The web series is a part of the International Panorama array including a 12-title competitive section. The series has received nominations in many categories- Best Series, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor as well as the Student Jury award and the Audience award.
Speaking about the selection, Asim said, “At its core, Barzakh is a family drama framed within a world of supernatural beings and other worldly events. The genesis of the story stemmed from a personal loss and the fears that came with it, making me realise that love is indeed eternal and nudging me to write a story about it. The selection of Barzakh at the Series Mania is such a momentous yet humbling occasion for all of us, not only because it’s a show that’s so close to my heart but also because the selection is such a strong validation of our belief in this story which is now finding its way amongst the best in the world.”
Shailja added that, “This series was conceptualised during the pandemic when all pre-defined notions of love, life, death and beyond were going through a seismic shift. Online work, mourning and celebrations had led to a sort of haze and confusion about what was real. Here lay the genesis of the show which is essentially a family reunion, where the living and the dead are all invited.”
“Set in the Hunza valley with its myths and legends, Asim Abbasi’s quirky, funny, deeply philosophical and layered writing, a dollop of magic realism and bringing Fawad Khan back…all added up to a show that needed to be made. I’m very thrilled as Barzakh not only finds its title, but also becomes the only series from our region to make it to the Series Mania Festival. We feel its selection at the festival is the perfect first step on the global journey the series is set to embark on,” Shailja said.
