Seedlings

Lamha

FEATURE FILM (2012)

90m *Family * Drama

Synopsis: A vibrant couple’s world is tilted off its axis after a devastating accident leaves them in the unbearable situation of nurturing the possibility of stability and happiness.

Director: Mansoor Mujahid, Meher Jaffri, Summer Nicks
Writer: Summer Nicks
Producer: Meher Jaffri, Summer Nicks
Production Company: Bodhicitta Works (now Bodhi Works)
Distribution by: Mandviwalla Entertainment

World Premiere: New York City International Film Festival 2012
Canadian Premiere: VISAFF 2013
UK Premiere: London Asian Film Festival (now known as UK Asian Film Festival) 2013

AWARDS & WINS

Award for Best Lead Actress – NYC International Film Festival, 2012
Award for Best Feature Film, Audience Award – NYC International Film Festival, 2012
Award for Best Feature Film, SAARC Film Festival, 2013
Award for Best Lead Actress, SAARC Film Festival, 2013
Award for Best Feature Film, DCSAFF 2013

Reviews

The best thing about Seedlings is that it does not preach, for even a moment. There is no lengthy dialogue to explain the situation to the audience. It is not an overly complex film, but the emotions it deals with can be difficult to understand. Also, the film does not spend extra energy on making it simple for anyone. It is a journey of self-discovery for the characters and the deepest insights come from short conversations with the secondary characters.

Customary and redundant words have been replaced with lengthy silences in the movie, aided by a very appropriate background score by musician Usman Riaz. There are long scenes, where nothing happens, but you can feel an over-arching loneliness. This is something which is not seen in Pakistani dramas, wherein shouting is considered a must to express emotions — even that is used very sparingly in the film. Less is definitely more for Seedlings.

The acting is very mature. While Sheikh has already won accolades for her portrayal of a woman in constant emotional pain, Mirza and Rasheed are excellent, too. They did not overact or cross the lines of believability, throughout the film.

A strong script, a detail-oriented direction and very involved performances. If a case can be made for independent cinema in Pakistan, then Seedlings is definitely a role model.
Tribune

Seedlings was one of the best performances by Aamina Sheikh.

Mohib Mirza also did a brilliant job in the role he had to play. He plays a father trying to deal with the “lamha” himself, and also helping his wife cope up with this drastic change in their lives. He was remarkably reserved in the scenes which required him to be and also did a wonderful job overall.

However, who stole the show for me was Gohar Rasheed.

The film is one of the best to have come out of Pakistan in the last few years.

On the whole Seedlings was an excellent attempt by producer Meher Jaffri and writer Summer Nicks. Hats off to the entire team for pulling off the task of making a film in this country where filmmaking is or rather was dead.

Galaxy Lollywood

Heartbreaking, captivating, and an engrossing piece of work – “Lamha” has ultimately set the standard for future feature films that come out of Pakistan
Dawn News