A Pakistani film about a boy who inadvertently strays into Indian territory will be the first ever to premiere simultaneously in both countries whose ties are often strained, the film's Pakistani producer said.

Ramchand Pakistani, inspired by a real-life incident, examines the emotional turmoil of an eight-year-old boy and his father after they cross into India and are jailed, while the mother in Pakistan is left waiting to see their fate.

The film's release in India and Pakistan on August 1 will be a rare event considering political rivalry has limited cultural interaction between the two nations.

"It is a very rare example of creative constructive collaboration between both countries," producer Javed Jabbar said at a press conference on Sunday, a day after the film was screened at the Osian's Cinefan film festival in New Delhi.


Jabbar, whose daughter Mehreen directed Ramchand Pakistani, said Pakistan allowed filming to take place close to sensitive border areas in southern Sindh province while India let the crew visit a jail in western Gujarat state to maintain "visual and narrative authenticity".

Indian actress Nandita Das, known for her roles in bold, unconventional productions, plays the mother in the film whose main characters are from Pakistan's minority Hindu community.

When Indian troops find the boy Ramchand and his father who comes looking for him, they suspect them of being spies.

 

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