saqlainali-06437

"This is Bramayugam, the age of madness! A worsened era of the most degenerate age, the Kaliyugam! God's exodus marks the beginning of Bramayugam. No matter how loudly you summon Him, He won't hear you!"

In the folklore of the 17th century, Thevan, a singer hailing from Paanan, finds himself adrift after narrowly escaping a slave market. His journey takes an unforeseen twist when he chance upon a mysterious path while evading a yakshi that abruptly crosses their way in the jungle. This enigmatic path leads him to 'The Mana,' the mansion of Kodumon Potti."

This cinematic masterpiece, a technically brilliant film, brings to mind; Satyajit Ray's The Music Room and Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal, where a gripping game of chess unfolds between the knight and Death, symbolizing profound existential struggle. However, in Bramyugam, Thevan and Kodumon Potti engage in a game of Pakida, where 'Time' itself becomes the wager. The film also jogs memory of Masaki Kobayashi's Kwaidan, yet it predominantly resonates with Robert Eggers's The Lighthouse and another Indian cinematic gem based on mythical folklore, Tumbbad.

Although Bramayugam may evoke thoughts of these films, it is undeniably original and transcends comparison. It's striking cinematography, haunting score, artwork, brilliant acting and direction; coalesce to create an eerie atmosphere within the dilapidated mansion, shrouded in intricate webs. Furthermore, it resonates deeply with pluviophile, capturing their hearts' desires in a unique and compelling manner.

Kamli will transcend Pakistani cinema to new heights and will open the door for other filmmakers to work on serious subjects.

Saba Qamar is phenomenal at what she does, and in this film potraying the character of Hina - a women, whose husband Saqlain hasn't returned since last eight years, while she is roaming the valley of Soon looking for lover to quinch her thirst - audience will witness her seductive erotic gaze and the way she moves her body 'overflowed with powerful emotion.'

Sania Saeed as Sakina, the pious religious women but blind and still teaches Holy Quran to Children is brilliant in her performance. Nimra Bucha as Zeenat is an artist fighting her own inner demons and Omair Rana adds a flavor as her husband.

Son of Irfan Khoosat, Sarmad Sultan Khoosat.(director of Manto and Zindagi Tamasha) has proven once again that he is the artisitic face of cinema and only he can pursue independent craft.

Great direction, great performances, mesmerizing landscapes, amazing cinematography, impeccable dialogues, good storyline, and soundtrack creating soothing atmosphere.

A poor, desolated, isolated man wandering the streets after witnessing the bloody murder, looking for meaning of his existence, life, and to search if God really exists consisting tha bits of anti-hero of Dostoevsky 's Crime and Punishment descending into Dante's Inferno.

Minimum dialogues with good visuals.