The Indus Valley School (IVS) Film Festival 2024 wrapped up its three-day event on Sunday with a compelling panel discussion focused on creating characters in mainstream dramas and films.
The last session, “Heroes and Villains—Stereotypes and Nuances in Film and TV,” featured insights from drama writer Bee Gul, director Nadeem Baig, and actors Sarwat Gillani and Sabeena Farooq, all of whom have extensive experience in the industry.
Journalist Fifi Haroon, who moderated the event, initiated a dialogue with Gul on defining heroes and villains. Gul expressed that villains often appear more liberated and fearless of judgment than heroes. She critiqued the typical portrayal of villains in Pakistani media as lacking depth and psychological complexity.
Continuing the discussion, Haroon probed whether impactful heroes were adequately represented. Gul responded, emphasizing the creative responsibility to carve out space for such characters, citing her work on “Raqeeb Se” as an example where she developed a complex villain who, despite his flaws, couldn’t be wholly despised due to his backstory.
Farooq shared her experience with the character Haya from “Tere Bin,” an obsessive lover she initially struggled to connect with. She explained how research and discussions with her director and co-actors helped her embody the role convincingly for the audience.
Addressing the lack of ambitious, strong-headed female heroes in Pakistani media, Farooq expressed hope for more nuanced portrayals of ambitious women, acknowledging the existing gap and recognizing ongoing efforts to fill it.
Baig then discussed the intricate process of integrating multiple female characters with distinct stories in a single show, emphasizing the crucial role of writing and directorial vision in crafting believable narratives.
Gillani contributed to the conversation by highlighting the subjective nature of characters, noting that one person’s protagonist could be another’s antagonist.
The discussion concluded on a forward-looking note, advocating for more female-led films in Pakistan and the portrayal of characters as agents of change.
The festival ended with an awards ceremony for aspiring filmmakers and a moving musical performance, inspiring attendees to reflect on the future of storytelling in film.
