Islamabad
The star-studded promotional ceremony for the highly anticipated Pakistani film ‘Umro Ayyar – A New Beginning’ enthralled the audience at the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) on Monday. The event, which took place at the university’s main auditorium, witnessed an overwhelming turnout of enthusiastic students, faculty, staff and their families, eager to catch a glimpse of the cast and crew of the VR Chilli Production’s film.
‘Umro Ayyar,’ inspired from Hamzanama and the first-ever VFX-based film in Pakistan with some of its scenes picturised at NUST, promises a visual and narrative treat, bringing to life the legendary adventures of the iconic trickster. The film’s promotional ceremony at the university was marked by an engaging panel discussion, a captivating trailer screening, and an interactive Q&A session.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome by the chief guest NUST Pro-Rector Planning & Resources, Maj Gen (Retd) Muhammad Arif Malik, HI(M). In his remarks, he expressed his gratitude to the ‘Umro Ayyar’ team for being at NUST. He termed the production an exquisite blend of the technological and creative prowess of the film industry, and a testament to the richness of our cultural heritage.
Following the welcome address, the film’s director, Azfar Jafferi, shared insights into the making of ‘Umro Ayyar.’ He remarked that they had poured their hearts and souls into creating a film that stays true to its roots, while offering something fresh and exciting for the audience. He further said that their aim was to rekindle the magic of these timeless tales both for the young and the old.
The highlight of the ceremony was the appearance of the film’s lead actors, who received thunderous applause as they took the stage. They included Usman Mukhtar, Sana Fakhar, and Faran Tahir to name a few. The actors shared their experiences and challenges in portraying such iconic characters. “Playing Umro Ayyar was a dream come true and I instantly accepted it as a challenge as soon as Azfar (the film’s Director) offered it to me. It is a role that demands wit, agility, and a deep understanding of the character’s essence,” said Usman Mukhtar.
Towards the end, the chief guest presented NUST souvenirs and certificates to the film’s cast and crew, and event organisers from NUST respectively. The chief guest also presented prizes to the winner and first and second runners-up of a video-making competition organised for NUST students.
