KARACHI: The trailer for a short film titled Vellichor written, produced and directed by Khalid Hasan Khan was launched at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday evening.

Speaking on the occasion, National Institute of Public Administration (Nipa) Director General Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, who has also acted in the film, said, “We haven’t gathered here just to witness the trailer of the film, but to begin a literary journey which aims to become the voice of our cultural memories and educational legacy.

“Vellichor means the scent of old books. The project is actually a literary thriller. It’s not meant to create sensation or entertainment, rather, its spirit is hidden in that human relationship which has kept civilisations alive for centuries.

“This creative effort is dedicated to the memory of Noorun Nisa (the light of a woman). Although, Noorun Nisa is a fictional character, the idea behind it is real. It represents a woman who wants to see books in the hands of her children. It wants to become the voice of that teacher who believes that nations’ destiny is written with a pen, not with weapons — the pen is mightier than the sword,” he said.

Talking to Dawn, Khalid Hasan Khan said, “This is Pakistan’s first literary thriller. Vellichor, the scent of old books, can be had in an old books’ shop or in a library. We want to take the film as a movement, not as a piece of entertainment. It is a movie through which we want to tell society that we need to save the paper, we need to protect newspapers.”

With regard to the story of the film, he said it’s set in a library which was built by a nawab in the name of his wife, Noorun Nisa, but their incompetent (nalaiq) son through a fake will wants to take control of the facility. In the course of the story, the protagonists try and save the library.

On the subject of the cinematic release of the 40-minute venture, Mr Hasan said it will be released in cinemas in a month’s time.

Dr Siraj, Irum Tanvir, Prof Jamal Raza, among others, also spoke at the launch of Vellichor.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026