Ali Kazmi spills the beans on Funny Boy's Netflix adaptation
Set for its debut on Netflix USA, UK, New Zealand and Australia, Ali Kazmi's Funny Boy is all set to launch on the tenth of December.
The much anticipated release is an adaptation of Shyam Selvadurai’s Sri Lanka-set coming-of-age novel Funny Boy of the same name; Deepa Mehta is directing.
The film will include performances by a star-studded cast of actors: Ingram, Nimmi Harasgama, Kazmi, Agam Darshi, Seema Biswas, Rehan Mudannayake and Shivantha Wijesinha, as reported by Variety.
"Coming of age, family, politics, sexuality, love in strange times and circumstances set in the 70s and 80s but even more relevant today," Kazmi posted on Instagram, as he announced the big news. "It’s relevancy transcends time, race, religion and cultures. It puts up a mirror to reflect the human condition."
"It takes a lot of hard work, literal blood sweat and tears to bring a film to life and I’m so proud to be a part of this ones journey! There’s nothing funny about #FunnyBoy!" he added.
Speaking to Images about his experience, Kazmi also spoke about how he excited he was of the opportunity.
"The other actors are From Srilanka, India, Canada , England and USA! I’m the only Pakistani and that too a lead in the film playing the Appa - the father of Funny Boy!" he brimmed with pride.
"Lots of hard work, research and physician mental transformations developing the character, Learnt How to speak Sinhalese, Tamil and British/Colombo English Accent! Delved into the history of the country and the people and the 1983 Riots and civil war! Lots of fun but lots of burden on the shoulders to portray the character as realistically and honestly as possible."
Shot on location in Colombo, the film explores Tamil protagonist Arjie’s (Arush Nand/Brandon Ingram) sexual awakening from a young boy, deemed “funny” by disapproving family, to a teenager enamoured by a male classmate, just as political tensions escalate, leading up to the civil war.
Produced by David Hamilton, three-time-Oscar-winner Howard Shore will be working on the score. Teresa Font is serving as editor while Douglas Koch is the cinematographer.
