FIRAAQ won the best feature film award.

Comments [ 5 ] By Pooja Kabra | 17 February 2009 | 5:33pm

A production of Percept Picture Company and actress Nandita Das's directorial debut FIRAAQ has settled another benchmark. This film is yet to be released in India and has won the 'Best feature film' award at the closing ceremony of the 7th Kara Film Festival - Karachi International Film Festival 2009 in Pakistan. It is one of the extremely prestigious and highly praised film festivals in the world that began on 4th Febuary, 2009 and ended on 15th Febuary, 2009. Although it has been chosen for some of the top film festivals in the world, where the bar is so high; that itself is a very big reward. The closing capped 12 days of screenings and events that showcased over 140 films from the 230 odd films initially selected. Films from some 44 countries participated in Pakistan's premiere international film festival.

The Best Feature film award went to Nandita Das' unreleased film "Firaaq" which screened at the Festival on Saturday and Sunday as the Closing Gala Film. The Festival jury cited the film for "its brutal honesty and candor" and its "optimism about generating a larger understanding for resolving conflicts and humanity itself." It also expressly emphasized that while "many people might mistakenly believe, especially given the current state of relations between the governments of Pakistan and India, that the choice of Firaaq is an attempt by a festival based in Pakistan to embarrass India regarding its record in Gujarat", that the jury's "reasons for choosing Firaaq as the best feature film of the 7th Kara Film Festival are far removed from such politicking."

In a special note about its choice, the jury pointed out that "in the end, the film clearly advocates the need not to turn away or indeed to run away, but to stay behind and fight bigotry with all the dignity and determination that communities can muster", also citing Firaaq as "a testament to the power of cinema to fill a vacuum in public discourse."

Indian filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and Nandita Das attended the closing ceremony along with Pakistani filmmakers such as Mazhar Moin and Faseeh Bari Khan, whose film "Burnes Road Ki Nilofer" picked up two awards. In her acceptance speech, director and actor Nandita Das said that she had been slightly apprehensive about bringing the film to Pakistan only because it might have been perceived as "pandering to the converted".

However, she said the response she had received had actually been so nuanced and engaged that her faith in the KaraFilm Festival – which she first attended in 2001 with her film "Bawandar" (Sandstorm) – had been reaffirmed.

"The journey of making Firaaq gave me the opportunity to express my concerns and beliefs. It has also been a kind of cathartic experience. It has pushed my boundaries and has helped me grow both personally and professionally," said Das. "In my travels and interactions with people, I have sensed a collective desire to understand the complicated and violent world we inhabit, and, with it, a palpable desire for peace. I hope Firaaq reflects this spirit and touches the hearts and minds of those who watch it."

Mr. Shailendra Singh, Joint MD, Percept Picture Company says, "We are feeling very graceful and honored as our film-Firaaq is stepping milestone day by day and got the honor of the Closing Gala Film of the Festival. I have never expected such a warm response from there, but I am amazed with the love and affection that we got there."