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The 3rd World Studios hosted a special screening of Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God, Pakistan’s first-ever stereoscopic, 3D film at Centaurus Cinema in Islamabad.

The trailblazing production was aired before a diverse audience from the twin cities, in the presence of the cast and other celebrities.

The film is an exciting, fast-paced, adventure of Allahyar, who along with his best friend, Hero the Chakor, travels to another world to save his father from a race of ruthless wood poaching robots.

In rescuing his father, Allahyar ends up saving their planet from imminent doom caused by decades of deforestation and pollution.

This action-packed and humorous film addresses the environmental issues we face today by drawing parallels between Earth and the alien planet. The story also explores social inequality and injustice, strength in unity and the value of friendship.

Starring Iqra Aziz as Aira, Azfar Jafri as Hero, Anum Zaidi as Allahyar, Ali Zafar as Minister, Meera as Bush Prince, Humayun Saeed as Sage, Bushra Ansari as Aunty Liz, Nadia Jamil as Cameo and Azlan as Azlan, the film is packed with action, drama and comedy with important social messaging for a young audience.

The film also contains original soundtracks from Ali Zafar, Sanam Marvi, Ali Noor and Grehan the band.

Uzair Zaheer Khan, the director, writer and producer of the film, said: “Working on Allahyar and the 100 Flowers of God was quite challenging but also a lot of fun. It made us learn and grow. We also ended up working on it longer than we had anticipated because of Covid-19.

“The project is the culmination of years of hard work, creativity and the tireless efforts of our talented team. As you saw, the studio’s relentless pursuit of excellence, coupled with cutting-edge technology, has brought this imaginative tale to life in a visually stunning 3D animation format,” he said.

“The animation genre has a space in Pakistan and this film has been received very well by people who are watching it, however, we believe the biggest challenge is marketing and getting the word out so people know about the film. I think the future of the animation industry and genre is bright and when you make a film like this, others are encouraged to do the same,” he added.

Transporting viewers into a magical world filled with wonder, adventure and valuable life lessons, the film follows the captivating journey of young Allahyar, a brave boy who must overcome his fears and join forces with an unlikely group of magical creatures, to save the beautiful enchanted valley from destruction.

The other prominent themes explored in this story are social inequality and injustice, as well as strength in unity and the value of friendship. It is a film that celebrates life through relatable and relevant characters that are both visually appealing and culturally appropriate role-models for youngsters to idolise.

Azfar Jafri, Animation Head and the voice actor for Hero, said: “Playing as ‘Hero’, the chakor, is as fun in the recordings as he is to animate and watch on the big screen. It’s also always exciting to work on something that has never been done before. I feel proud to be part of a team that brought the very first 3D Stereoscopic film to our cinemas.”

“The film has something for everyone, be it impressive action, mesmerising original soundtrack or thrilling chase sequences. It is developed to suit all ages. Animation is a really powerful medium and it is not going to take too long before we start seeing animated content targeted towards young adults. All we need to focus on is good and meaningful content,” he added.

Anum Zaidi, the voice actor for Allahyar, said: “My experience of working on a project like this was very wholesome. I am so honoured to be given the opportunity to be a part of something that all of Pakistan can take pride in. From the storyline to the animation, the action and detail, the team has worked very hard. The music is great.”

She said: “I love the character of Allahyar. He is a little kid who is put into difficult situations. His father is the most important person to him and Allahyar has to be courageous and face his fears to save his father. Over the course of the film, he finds strength in his friends and I love that about him. He is such a good role model for young kids and the main message about the environment is also so important.”

The audience thoroughly enjoyed the amazing animation and cinematography. The film is an important addition to culturally relevant entertainment for children.

Originally published in Dawn, July 10th, 2023