KARACHI: Horror films are difficult to make, but a good script and sound design can hypnotise and frighten audiences. Gulabo Rani, Usman Mukhtar’s short film, does just that.
From Siyaah (2013) through Maya (2015) and Pari (2018), Pakistani horror films have failed to impress. The flicks had jump scares, intriguing backstories, and ghastly characters, but the audience felt empty. Usman Mukhtar’s 35-minute short film Gulabo Rani may have cracked Pakistani horror.
He added that the horror genre’s stigma discourages filmmakers. “Every genre except rom-com is hard to work on,” Mukhtar said. “However, the horror genre of filmmaking is looked down upon in Pakistan, it’s considered as the step-child of filmmaking here. Most people and even producers feel that horror films will come out as ‘funny’. Hence, our objective with Gulabo Rani was to remove this attitude.”
Gulabo Rani’s spirit’s images could have improved the short film. Her “ghostly” face that knocked on Akhtar’s door did not match her terrifying demeanour. Maybe if her face wasn’t shown or remained a blurred image that glares towards the end of the film, it would have added to the mystery of Gulabo Rani and her terrifying powers.
Muhktar affirmed that if they find a producer, they will make a horror film! “We developed this short film to offer funders and producers the style and feel of a feature picture we intend to shoot. Hopefully, we soon obtain a producer.”
