KARACHI: To pay tribute to the Pakistan Air Force, a film titled Parwaz Hai Junoon was launched at a local hotel on Wednesday. It was announced by producer of the film Momina Duraid at a press conference.

She said all people knew that when it came to the brave men and women behind flying machines the Pakistan Air Forces was one of the best forces in the world and Pakistanis were proud of them. She said she wanted this pride to translate into a film.

Air Commodore Syed Mohammad Ali began his speech on a lighter note. He said it was thought that there were three kinds of professions: either you became the US president or an actor or a fighter pilot. He said out of them, two (actors and pilots) were fond of having their pictures taken. He said he had recently met actor Hamza Ali Abbasi (who is playing the lead character in the movie) and had now also seen Osman Khalid Butt (who was on stage with him) and was wondering what would happen if the two actors wore fighter pilot suits. He said he was thankful to Hum TV and MD Films whose passion for the Pakistan Air Force was worth appreciating. He said it couldn’t have happened on a more appropriate day because it was Sept 7, Yaum-i-Fazaya.

Hum TV’s Sultana Siddiqui said whatever the armed forces did, they did it after a great deal of consideration, which was the reason that they chose her production house for the project. She said they wouldn’t be disappointed. She said making films on the lives of our heroes bridged the gap between the people and them because through the movies they got to know about the sacrifices that the heroes were making for their country.

Parwaz Hai Junoon director Haseeb Hassan said it was an honour for him that he was chosen to helm such a project. Referring to the two actors present on the occasion, he said Hollywood film Top Gun on a similar subject had Tom Cruise in it, and he was presenting two Tom Cruises in his film.

The writer of the film, Farhat Ishtiaq, said researching on the Air Force heroes had enhanced her love for the country.

Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi said actors got very few opportunities to do something for their country; it was one such opportunity. He said it was a privilege for him to work on a project about the Air Force. He said on Tuesday he was in Multan in connection with a Defence Day event where he met families of the martyrs. He said meeting them made him realise that those were the families who actually sacrificed a lot and because of whom we were able to do what we were doing.

Actor Osman Khalid Butt said when he was seven or eight years old he was thrilled to go on local rides which made other people feel nauseous. He said because of that his family used to say that he should become a pilot. He said though he became an actor instead, he was thankful to the Air Force and the makers of the film for giving him the chance to play the part of a pilot.

Answering a question Momina Duraid said the leading lady of the film was a secret. She also said that a considerable portion of the film’s collections would go to the Shuhada Fund.

Parwaz Hai Junoon will be released on Eidul Azha next year.

Published in Dawn September 8th, 2016