While Pakistan’s film industry was off to a slow start this year, with the films minus Parchi not making much of a mark, the trailer of Sanam Saeed, Aamina Sheikh and Adnan Malik’s much-anticipated family drama Cake has finally released and it looks pretty promising.
Directed by debut director Asim Abbasi, Cake is shown to be an in-depth exploration of the natural, universal tensions between grown-up siblings and elderly parents. From the synopsis and the short trailer, Cake reminds us of Bollywood’s Kapoor and Sons which also starred Fawad Khan. The sibling rivalry and the grand family reunion following a family member’s illness is what instantly made the connection.
Cake starres Sanam Saeed, Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Malik as the main characters along with Mohammed Ahmed, Beo Rana Zafar, Faris Khalid and an extended cameo appearance by Mikaal Zulfiqar. While Sanam and Aamina are shown to be sisters, the exact characters of the two leading men, Malik and Zulfiqar, remain a mystery.
The trailer gave us a peek into the trials and travails of the Jamali family, each member of which seems to have an emotionally charged relationship with each other. The film also seems to display the true sibling bond between Aamina Sheikh and Sanam Saeed, who seem to be fighting one minute and getting along the next. The trailer also has a couple of humorous moments to lighten the mood as the story is peppered with dramatic family moments in an intimate and warm setting.
Speaking at the trailer launch which took place in Karachi on Thursday, Sanam Saeed commented, “Cake is a game changer for me personally. It’s going to be tough picking up another script after this beautifully structured, emotionally charged and humorous script. Cake helped me prepare for grievances and reminded me of the importance of family. The process challenged me as an actor and has helped me grow. The laughter and tears in Cake are from the heart!”
Saeed’s on-screen sister Aamina Sheikh’s are shared the same enthusiasm, remarking, “Can’t wait to serve the whole Cake to our audience; I’m certain it’ll ring true to home and bring authenticity to our Pakistani audience. Cake is definitely a stepping stone towards forming an identity of Pakistani cinema.”
The lead male actor, Adnan Malik said, “When something is made with pure intentions and true love, the love shines through to the end of the product, whether it’s a cake or a film (or in this case both in one!) Get ready for an emotional journey!”
While director Asim is well-known for his short films, Cake is his first feature-length project in Pakistan. Although the director himself was not present at the trailer launch, he previously explained, “It initially took me some time to adjust to the way things work in Pakistan. I aim to bring innovation to Pakistani cinema, which is why Cake varies from a typical dance around trees film as it revolves around family drama. I hope that Cake works at the box office so that more people have the confidence to make different kinds of films.”
Cake releases on 30th March and needless to say, we certainly enjoyed the first slice of it and can’t wait to devour the entire thing.
Watch the trailer for the film here:
