Actor-director, Usman Mukhtar has released the trailer for his award-winning horror film “Gulabo Rani” through his production company, Eastern Terrestrial Studios, which he launched with his friend Meiraj in April. The tagline of the film, “The main work of haunting is done by the living,” sets an ominous tone.
Based on the trailer, it appears that the movie revolves around a haunted hostel. Rather than relying on dialogue, the trailer’s dark visuals and eerie music and sound effects create a chilling atmosphere.
Akhtar, a young boy, receives admission to a prestigious 150-year-old university. However, fate has a different plan for him. Due to an administrative fluke, he is placed in the derelict and decrepit “Wing C” of the dormitories, where the stories of haunting and despair are as old as the bricks themselves.
As he tentatively introduces himself to his fellow students, Akhtar begins to sense something off about his new surroundings. Strange occurrences start to happen around him, but being a skeptic, he dismisses them as mere coincidences. However, as these unexplainable events start to become more frequent and increasingly unsettling, his beliefs are shaken to their core.
To make matters worse, some of his peers take delight in mocking, ridiculing, and bullying him, further adding to his psychological distress. Left alone and tormented, he must confront the unimaginable horror that awaits him in Wing C, a horror beyond his wildest dreams. Will he emerge from this experience unscathed, or will he succumb to the darkness that surrounds him?
The film bagged awards in Best Horror Short Film, Best Sound Design, Best Director Male, and Best Cinematography. Mukhtar added that Gulabo Rani has won awards at Indie X Film Fest LA in categories, Best Horror Short Film and Best Director Male including an award at Indie Short Fest LA for Best Horror Short Film.
It is creditable to the makers and their creative vision that despite having a very limited budget they have managed to not only produce the film but also show it on international platforms. This not only speaks for the efforts themselves but also will have a far-reaching impact on young filmmakers who dream of making films and are limited by their financial constraints. It is notable that horror is not a genre that is very well received in Pakistan yet the fact that the filmmakers went ahead to take on this project has resulted in through sheer passion has resulted in the film earning multiple awards. This just goes to show that hard work, passion, and dedication will eventually find the recognition it deserves.
It is all set to be released on Youtube on 20th March.
