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HALAL LOVE STORY

Thoufeek, an unmarried young man from a very orthodox family, is highly passionate about filmmaking. He is an active member and plays a key role in one of Kerala's popular Islamic Organisations, which has kept his cinema dreams in halt. He's approached by Raheem and Shereef with the idea of making a film as an initiative of the cultural wing of his organisation. They soon approach Siraj, a popular associate director to don the cap of the director. The biggest challenge for the crew is to keep the movie 'Halal' (Halal - a term as per Quran which means "lawful" or "allowed to do" under Islamic beliefs). As the crew follows religious guidelines in every phase of the filmmaking, massive confusions happen. An unorthodox Siraj (film director) struggles to go ahead with the project.

  • ZAKARIYA
    Director
  • Zakariya, Muhsin Perari
    Writer
  • Ashiq Abu,Harshad Ali,Jesna Hashim
    Producer
  • Indrajith,Joju George,Grace Antony,Sharafudheen
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 55 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 16, 2020
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Malayalam
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - ZAKARIYA

Zakariya is an Award winning film director and
Screen writer known for his directorial debut
Sudani from Nigeria (2018), which has met with critical acclaim and commercial success at the box office.
The film won National award for best feature film in Malayalam. Five state awards and gathered awards from several International film festivals. His second movie Halal love story (2020) was also discussed widely and was a commercial success. He also credited as co-producer of the movie under the banner Ourhood Movies.
He launched an independent production house named Cross border camera, debuting with Momo in Dubai. He recently announced his new film Ayisha and Jackson Basar youth.
Awards:
National award for best malayalam movie 2018
Kerala State Film Award for best debut director.2018
Kerala State Film Award for best screenplay.2018
Kerala State Film Award for best film with Popular appeal and aesthetic value value.
festival selections
Shangai International Film festival,China 2018
International film festival of India,Goa 2018
International film festival of Kerala 2018
Dhaka international film festival,Bangladesh 2019
Fez International film festival,Morocco 2019

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Director Statement

A year back, When I was attending the commemoration of a poet in my hometown, i happened to see a middle-aged couple present at the event sharing their memories of the poet, In the 1990s the poet visited the couple and requested them to be cast as husband and wife in an upcoming tele film made by the art wing of their organisation (Islamic Organisation). Initially, the wife, who is a dedicated worker of the group, was reluctant to act. Eventually because of the pressure from the fellow group she agreed to be in the movie's cast as her husband’s wife. The narration of this incident by the couple thrilled the audience and the couple could spread laughter among the audience. From that tale, I got a thread for a movie by listening to them. The muslims in Kerala are a mix of various groups based on various opinions, when a group completely prohibits the engagement of musical instruments the other support and practice street plays and other forms of art against various sorts of national and international injustice by staying in the limits of the halal/haram (permissible, non permissible).
Though cinema is considered as Haram (non-permissible) for muslims in Kerala there are several well-known directors, producers and actors among muslims.

The islamic organisation which used to conduct street plays and other art forms against various sorts of social evils came forward to produce a tele movie, though late.
Somehow, intellectuals in the ‘progressive group’ came forward to produce a movie, as it is prime time for one. Though there were internal disagreements from the organisation, the need for one made them move ahead.
Halal Love Story is trying to trip through the family and societal life of a Muslim individual in a particular organaisation, the movie also covers the various kinds of difficulties the art wing go through while trying to make a film.
Halal Love Story is the tale of deeply religious men who set out to make a movie that would fit their description of ‘halal’ which means permissible according to The Holy Quran.