Hollywood meets Bollywood in Bolton

Zafar Iqbal, is premiering two of his films ‘Banana Boys’ and ‘My Big Fat Love Story’

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Rochdale born trainee teacher, Zafar Iqbal, is premiering two of his films ‘Banana Boys’ and ‘My Big Fat Love Story’ in Bolton’s VUE cinema at 7.00pm on Monday 18 June.

Zafar is a one-man film-factory: he wrote, directed, produced and starred in both films, although he did have a team at hand to help.

The issues covered in both films are evident across the country; however Zafar believes that they particularly resonate with his home town of Rochdale and across other places in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Zafar Iqbal said: “The movie premieres are great news for me and the people of Rochdale. I want to take my movies out of Rochdale to show the rest of the population that Rochdalians are very creative and that good things do come out of Rochdale.

"Rochdale has been under the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons, but I want to delete that with the Bolton Premieres of my movies. If the films are a success, I could be bringing a taste of Rochdale and Bolton to Bollywood and Hollywood.”

Mr Iqbal added: “I am very grateful to my University for organising the Bolton premieres of my two movies.

"The teams are extremely happy with the final product and we all are looking forward to the night when we see them on the big screen.

"I would like to thank everybody who helped and supported me when making these two movies.”
The aim of both films is to highlight the issues facing young people in modern Britain’s mixed communities. ‘My Big Fat Loves Story’ is a Bollywood-style love story about two British Muslim couples, who have to deal with the everyday strains of a 21st century relationship.

Mr Iqbal described the film as: “A simple, poetic movie, which is based on the conflict of a modern and a traditional couple. It will make you laugh, cry, dance and celebrate love as never before.”

‘Banana Boys’ is a hard-hitting, crime drama that explores the attraction and pitfalls of drugs, gang culture and unemployment. These issues are often faced by youths in society today, so the film should accurately reflect them and allow them to identify with the characters.

Mr Iqbal said: “The film is fiction; however I was inspired by real life events. I’ve seen young people dealing drugs outside my doorstep. The reason it inspired me is because I realised it’s not just young people from one community.

"Initially, all the characters in the film were Asian but then I realised that the problems of drugs, crime and unemployment affect young people from most communities, probably now more than ever.”

Dr Zubair Hanslot is Provost – Off Campus Division at the University added: "Everybody here at the University, from students to staff, can’t wait for the premiere.

"Zafar and his teams have worked very hard on these two amazing movies to educate and entertain us all. We want to celebrate the success of our students and this is the best opportunity to show the diverse talents which the University has to offer."