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We finally have a trailer for Mera Lyari — billed as Pakistan’s answer to Dhurandhar — and it looks like it’ll be a tear-jerker.

The film, written and directed by Abu Aleeha, focuses on the historic Karachi neighbourhood of Lyari, its girls and their love for football. It will release in Pakistan on May 8 after premiering at the UK Asian Film Festival.

The film stars Ayesha Omar as a football coach who suffered a debilitating injury, ostensibly a result of domestic abuse. Having escaped Lyari, she returns to teach girls in the area how to play.

There, Afsana (Dananeer Mobeen) and Kashmala (Trinette Lucas) train with the coach in secret, using the game to escape troubles at home.

The trailer shows how, while her mother is supportive of her activities, Afsana’s father subjects her to abuse similar to what Omar’s character faced when he finds out his daughter is “wearing pants and playing football”.

Omar, who also serves as the film’s executive producer under her production house Hawks Bay Studios, said it was more than a movie for her and the team. “It’s a story we truly believe in.” She called it “a story of resilience, identity and the courage to rise, even when the odds are stacked against you”.

She said the film was “extremely close to our hearts” and she was glad to share a glimpse of that journey with everyone.

Earlier, the film’s director said its greatest strength was its authenticity, having been shot in Lyari by people who knew the area. He said “80 per cent of the cast — including supporting actors, members of the local football teams and even our hero Shoaib Hassan — are actual Lyari inhabitants”.

Sindh Minister of Information Sharjeel Memon hailed the film in December as Pakistan hitting back at “negative propaganda” pushed by India. The province’s information department, which operates under his ministry, was also involved in making this film.