Emirati-Indian film gets world premiere at DIFF

Nayla Al Khaja’s “Malal” will have its world premiere at this year’s Dubai International Film Festival, the filmmaker said.

“Malal”, which is the first movie to be produced by a UAE national outside the Emirates, will be part of the festival’s annual Muhr Emirati competition, Al Khaja said on her Facebook page.

Billed as the first Emirati-Indian film, the 15-minute project was largely shot on location in Munnar, a hill town in the South Indian state of Kerala and cost Dh200,000 to shoot, not including post-production and associated costs, Al Khaja said. "It's a 15-minute film, but it's the most stressful 15 minutes I've ever had," she joked to Emirates 24|7.

‘Malal’, which means bored, puts the spotlight on an Emirati couple who have been through an arranged marriage. On honeymoon, the new bride finds her marriage cold and emotionless and dreams up various situations to liven things up for herself. "It's about two people who don't get along," Al Khaja said. "I'm not making a judgement, it's just that the couple have no chemistry but they're now stuck in a relationship with each other."

The film’s script won a cash prize of $13,500 at the Gulf Film Festival earlier this year. It has been produced with support from the Abu Dhabi media body twofour54, who Al Khaja says provided financial and post-production support.

Al Khaja shot her first film, “Unveiling Dubai”, eight years ago, and has since produced several commercials and short films, including “Arabana”.

She is to begin work on her first feature film next, a Middle Eastern desert thriller that is estimated to cost $2 million.

The seventh edition of Dubai International Film Festival will be held from December 12 to 19. A screening schedule is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.