Shaheer Ahmed
The producers of the movie Javed Iqbal: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer are still committed to seeing it released on a big screen despite encountering countless challenges and setbacks. Kukri is now the name of the movie after modifications were made by director Abu Aleeha, who intends to resubmit it for censor board clearance. According to Aleeha, the new name is based on Javed Iqbal’s nickname due to his sitting style.
“Our goal is just for people to see this, recognise the character and see how this man was living like a normal man and, once you see the film, if there is any child abuser, rapist, or molester around you, please identify him for the sake of your children. This was our message. They told us to incorporate the message at the end of the film somehow which we are going to do. The changes are less about cuts and more about additions. If the film duration was previously 95 minutes, now it’s increased by ten minutes.”
Kukri will be released, if it is approved, between Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Azha. The movie’s premiere was postponed to December from its original October 2021 release date because to censoring difficulties. Despite having its Karachi premiere in January 2022, the Punjab government later decided to prevent the film’s release.
The movie Kukri is based on the true account of serial killer Javed Iqbal, who admitted to killing 100 young boys in Lahore in 1999. Aleeha wrote the screenplay for the movie, and Javed Ahmed Kakepoto is the director and producer. The movie has already had its world debut at a festival in the UK and has been chosen for the Berlin International Art Film Festival, despite the difficulties it encountered on the way to the big screen.
