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Tussle

A fisherman survives a deadly boat incident with a mysterious golden pocket watch that grants wishes, but at a steep cost. As a police officer seeks to revive his son, he discovers the dark power of the watch, leading to devastating consequences.

  • Syed Asad Raza Abidi
    Director
  • Ameer Hamza
    Writer
  • Faizan Ahmed
    Producer
  • Shamoon Abbasi
    Key Cast
    "Raza"
    To Strike (2013), Karachi Division (2021)
  • Nazish Ali
    Key Cast
    "Zareen"
  • Danish Irshad
    Key Cast
    "Azad"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Janjaal
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 1, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    1,800 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Pakistan
  • Country of Filming:
    Pakistan
  • Language:
    Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Cinema Camera - Sony FX3
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:25:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Indus University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Indus Film Festival
    Karachi
    Pakistan
    January 5, 2025
    Karachi Premiere
    Best Director Award
  • Kolkata International Short Film Festival
    Kolkatta
    India
    February 20, 2025
    Beat Director & Best Short Film
  • Pakistan International Film Festival
    Karachi
    Pakistan
    June 22, 2025
    Karachi Premiere
    Best Film Award
  • Gandhara Independent Film Festival
    Karachi
    Pakistan
    October 19, 2025
    Karachi Premiere
    Best Short Film & Best Director Award
  • The Monthly Film Festival, Scotalnd
    Glasgow
    United Kingdom
    November 1, 2025
    Scotland
    Best Trailer Award
Director Biography - Syed Asad Raza Abidi

Syed Asad Raza Abidi is a Pakistani filmmaker, director, and editor, best known for his award-winning short film Janjaal (Tussle). Founder of Cinegma Films, Asad is recognized for his grounded storytelling and visual depth. A graduate of Indus University in Film & TV, he has directed, edited, and produced multiple independent projects, including Portrait of Life, noted for its introspective tone and visual poetry. Asad represents the new wave of independent Pakistani cinema.

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Director Statement

JANJAAL is about the dangers of wanting something too much and how our wishes can come with unexpected consequences. The story shows how greed and desperation can lead to regret. As a director, I wanted to make the audience feel the weight of every decision the characters make. This film is a reminder that sometimes, we should be careful about what we wish for, because the price might be higher than we think.