Film ‘Item’ raises its voice with striking clarity

Islamabad: (Staff Reporter) In a society where conversations about violence against women are often muted or avoided altogether, the Pakistani film ‘Item’ raises its voice with striking clarity. Written and directed by Huma Shaikh, the film confronts harassment, social hypocrisy, and gendered injustice with an unflinching gaze, marking a significant moment in socially conscious cinema. Made by a woman and centered on women’s lived realities, Item is less an exercise in spectacle than a deliberate act of storytelling.

Shaikh’s decision to tackle a subject long considered uncomfortable reflects both artistic courage and social responsibility. The result is a film that positions dignity, resilience, and self-respect at its core. The film’s premiere, held at a local cinema in Karachi and simultaneously screened across the country, drew an audience that included prominent figures from social, cultural, and artistic circles. Running over two and a half hours, Item maintains a firm grip on viewers, sustaining emotional engagement from start to finish. The story is rooted in real-life experiences.

The screenplay and dialogues were written by Huma Shaikh herself, with the late Iqbal Rizvi, a celebrated name in Pakistani cinema, shaping the narrative into its final scripted form. The collaboration lends the film both emotional depth and narrative discipline. At the center of Item is Mahnoor, portrayed by Aaliya Ali, a young woman burdened by circumstances beyond her control. The daughter of a disabled father, Mahnoor dreams of education but is forced to abandon her studies under the weight of harassment, suspicion, and character assassination.

Whether at work or in her neighborhood, she encounters cruelty that cuts across class and authority. The relentless social pressure ultimately leads to her father’s death, yet her ordeal continues. A pivotal moment arrives when Mahnoor is advised by a woman from an advertising agency: “No field is bad; it is the mindset of people that makes it so.” The line becomes the moral spine of the film. Mahnoor enters the modeling industry, achieves rapid success, and in doing so exposes the double standards of a society quick to benefit from women’s visibility but reluctant to grant them respect. Aaliya Ali’s performance anchors the film. She traces Mahnoor’s transformation—from fear and silence to confidence and self-worth—with emotional precision. Her work in the modeling and dance sequences evokes echoes of Pakistan’s cinematic golden era, while remaining grounded in the character’s lived pain. In a significant supporting role, Aima Khan plays film star Mehak, embodying the contradictions and hypocrisy prevalent in society.

Despite being a newcomer, Khan delivers a confident performance that reinforces the film’s critique. Azad Khan, appearing as the male lead, brings restraint and sincerity, while seasoned actors including Behroze Sabzwari, Sangeeta Begum, Mariam Mirza, Ismat Zaidi, Adnan Saeed, and Malik Raza strengthen the ensemble. Music further amplifies the film’s emotional reach. Songs composed by M. Arshad, son of legendary composer M. Ashraf, linger well beyond the closing credits. The background score by Azhar Hussain, treated and designed by Ali Jeffo, intensifies the narrative’s emotional weight without overpowering it. With assured direction, evocative cinematography, and dialogue rooted in social awareness, Item functions as more than entertainment. It is a statement—one that challenges audiences to confront uncomfortable truths and reconsider deeply ingrained attitudes. In exposing a harsh reality of Pakistani society, Item also carries a quiet insistence: the struggle for women’s dignity and freedom cannot be sidelined. Long after the screen fades to black, the film’s message continues to resonate—firm, unsettling, and necessary.