Partition Aik Safar

This mega project, the first of its kind to be done in Pakistan, is a different story-one that takes its viewers on a journey that begins on 15th August 1947 and ends today. It is a story of three generations and in the background are key historical events taken from the past, so the journey becomes a combination of romance, politics and pathos. This epic has been shot in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh with actors from all three countries participating in the production. In Pakistan the shooting includes among other places, Khokropar, Mirpurkhas, Pithoro, Hyderabad and Karachi in Sind. The rich picturesque surroundings of Islamabad, Lahore, Murree and Rawalpindi have also been used effectively to show Pakistan at its best. In Bangladesh the production team worked in collaboration with Dream Factory, a local production house of repute. The colours and culture of the country were highlighted when the shooting took place at the tea gardens of Sylhet and on the Meghna River among other places in Dhaka. The Government of Bangladesh and especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was very supportive and encouraging during the shoot. The team was blessed with the rare opportunity of filming at the shrine of Khwaja Moeenuddin Chishty in Ajmer on the 12th of Rabi-ul-awal. Apart from Ajmer, the shooting also took place in Mumbai, Lukhnow and Delhi. The beautiful historical Residency building in Lukhnow was used in one sequence while the Shahi Masjid and the renowned red brick Government Offices were used as a backdrop in New Delhi. Gemini Studios in Mumbai was the partner in India and the shooting went off without a hitch. The team was also honoured by visits on the sets by Shahrukh Khan, Govinda, Kader Khan and Zeenat Aman. The famous poetess, Indira Verma, wrote lyrics of a song to promote peace and friendship in the region- a theme which is prevalent throughout the story. The music deserves special mention because for the first time 27 Pakistani songs- 3 Indian –4 Bangladeshi songs have been used in a project. Waqar Ali, the Music Director, has also recorded a theme song in the voice of Sajjad Ali. The central theme of the story is peace and its message is that of freedom- freedom for the individual, freedom in speech and freedom for the state. It celebrates freedom for everyone and it looks ahead in the years to come to a Pakistan that is free of extremism and free of censorship- a Pakistan free of dictatorship, where millions of flowers will bloom.