LONDON, Oct 19: Mehreen Jabbar’s Ramchand Pakistani was screened here on Saturday evening to a packed house on the third day of the 15-day The Times-British Film Institute (BFI) 52nd London Film Festival.

Already winner of FIPRESCI award, the film drew thunderous applause when the lights went on in the 500-seat hall as the screen darkened suddenly after an emotionally charged but highly restrained directorial triumph of a last scene.

Javed Jabber, the producer, Mehreen Jabbar the director and Nandita Das, an accomplished artiste of India’s art movies and one of the main characters of the film were at hand to briefly introduce Ramchand Pakistani before the screening and then after the show answered questions from a very knowledgeable audience.