Pakistani cinema had a moment to celebrate on the world stage as Sarmad Khoosat brought, Lali, premiered at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in the Panorama section. Marking the first fully Pakistani feature to debut at Berlinale, the premiere felt less like a screening and more like a collective victory lap for Pakistan’s independent film community.
Alongside Khoosat, the red carpet was alive with the entire cast and crew — from lead actors Mamya Shajaffar and Channan Hanif to executive producer Tooba Siddiqui — sharing the moment with pride and excitement.
Set in the bustling, narrow streets of Sahiwal’s shantytowns, Lali tells the story of newlywed Zeba and her husband Sajawal, a man weighed down by insecurities and growing paranoia. Zeba carries the shadow of a past marked by tragedy — three of her former fiancés died under strange circumstances, giving her the reputation of a cursed bride. She leans on her fiery yet kind mother-in-law, Sohni Ammi, and the quiet, perceptive neighbor Bholi for support. The film moves fluidly from chaotic, comedic wedding scenes to darker moments of jealousy, desire, and tension, all wrapped in striking, saturated visuals where red dominates, signaling both celebration and warning, love and danger.
At the premiere, Khoosat shared a heartfelt speech reflecting on what Lali means to him. “Lali means red,” he said. “Red is the color of celebration, of clothes, of music, of love and longing. But red is also the color of warning, of anger, of blood. It is a color that refuses to be ignored.” He went on to connect cinema with the real world, highlighting its power to reflect both joy and suffering. Khoosat spoke about the ongoing tragedies in Gaza and the importance of standing on the right side of history, emphasizing shared humanity and the duty to acknowledge injustice wherever it occurs.
The premiere, which took place on February 20, was preceded by a gathering hosted by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany, Saqlain Syedah, and social media quickly filled with moments of joy and camaraderie among the cast, crew, and supporters of Pakistani cinema. Lali continues Khoosat’s trajectory of boldly telling stories that challenge audiences, following his previous successes with Joyland and Zindagi Tamasha, both of which represented Pakistan at the Academy Awards.
Sarmad Khoosat’s Lali is a film that refuses to fit neatly into a single genre. From comedic wedding chaos to psychological tension, it captures the messy, intoxicating, and vividly human experience of life, love, and superstition in a corner of Pakistan rarely seen on screen. And with its premiere at Berlinale, it has not only carved out a space for Pakistani filmmakers on the global stage but also reinforced the power of cinema to speak to universal truths while remaining deeply rooted in local storytelling.
sources: IMDb, Screen Daily
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