Pakistani filmmaker Farjad Nabi rose to prominence in 1997
when his debut film ‘Nusrat has left the building…But When?’ won the Second
Best Film Award at Film South Asia, Kathmandu. He again created history when
his 2013 feature film titled ‘Zinda Bhaag’ became the first Pakistani film in
over fifty years to be submitted for Oscar consideration in the Best Foreign
Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards.

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He is once again teaming up with British-Indian filmmaker Meenu
Gaur to tell stories of women, this time with Zee5 Global’s first-of-its-kind
desi noir anthology titled ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’. For him, it was exciting
to be part of this shift where women are headlining the stories.

“The trailer of the show has got great feedback. I am in Lahore
right now where we are not used to watching this kind of desi women, especially
Pakistani women, doing this kind of stuff. I have got some feedback from men
who said that they are literally shaking in their boots, so I think that has
been very effective,” he told Opoyi.

Written by Farzad Nabi and Meenu Gour, ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ is set in the timeless alleys of ‘Andron City’, a mythical neighbourhood,
and showcases tales of love, lust, power, redemption, and revenge woven into a
web of betrayal and anger.

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Each story in the anthology depicts the fearlessness of women and
their determination to avenge deceit. There is mystery and intrigue at the core
of the stories with twist endings.

For Farjad, Pakistan has very strong women but their stories
were never told.

“These stories were just waiting to be told and it’s so refreshing
because so far, the male perspective has been in control of this kinds of
storytelling. Even if you look at literature, the detective and thriller
writers are all men so it was just very refreshing and very exciting to turn
that on its head and tell it from the female point of view.

“We often see that the female character is there in the story to
be either saved or seduced but now I think the shift has happened on a
universal level where women do not need to be saved. She has her own horse and
she has her sword and she can fight so I think it’s a very exciting time to be
an artist, as a writer, as a director, and as an actor. This is something which
is happening in front of our eyes as we see the storytelling shift and the
audience shift,” he said.

Giving an example of how Superman has become bisexual in a new
franchise, he said, “How easily a Superman is kissing a man so I think it’s
really cutting edge for our region and ‘Qaatil Haseenao…’ are really showing
the way and lighting the path. I think all these seven haseenas are archetypes
just waiting to awaken in all the women around us so the time is right and the
moment is right,” he said. 

Talking about the evolution of South Asian women in
narratives globally, he said, “There is a power struggle going on.”

“Right now on the throne is the traditional representation of
south Asian women and the person leading the charge to topple that throne is
the strong woman  knowing what she wants. There is a struggle going on and
perhaps this time of struggle will be more exciting when it will be over
because right now nobody knows how this thing will pan out and what will
click. 

Also Read: Pak show ‘Qatil Haseenaon Ke Naam’ is breaking stereotypes, know how from the stars

“That is why out of the blue a character which nobody thought
would click suddenly clicks and becomes a worldwide phenomenon,” he summed up.