Video: Emiratis, Indians join hands for short film on shawarma

Dubai - The short film is being called a very relatable, feel-good story which is a tribute to every shawarma maker in the UAE.

Four years ago, a 50-year-old shawarma maker Mohammed Kutty living in Fujairah told scriptwriter and journalist Sadiq Kavil about his yearning to bring his family to the UAE. Kutty had been living and working in the UAE for forty years, and except for the small neighbourhood near his shawarma cafeteria, he hadn't gone anywhere, not even back home to Malappuram, Kerala even once.
"I have already missed three major life events. The construction of my house, my son's wedding, as well as my daughter's wedding ceremony," Kutty said to Kavil. He'd been sending money for those many years and finally decided to head back home. Four years later, Kavil and director Jimmy Joseph used the conversation with Kutty as the concept for the short film Shawarma.

A rare collaborative project between Emiratis and Indians, the short film was released on YouTube 15 days ago. It has already garnered over 200,000 views and is being called a very relatable, feel-good story which is a tribute to every shawarma maker in the UAE.
Emirati-Indian collaboration
The film is also a very realistic and relatable description of relationships between Emirati bosses and expatriates, especially in situations like these. Ahmed Al Romaithi, an Abu Dhabi government employee and short film producer said: "It's not about Malayalees alone. When Jimmy spoke about this project, I realised it reflects what is going on in the UAE in general." He added, "You don't see too many films of this kind. We have a lot of Malayalees in the UAE, and we need to share the stories of expatriates."
Romaithi would like to see more Emiratis enter the field of cinema. "It's a cultural thing. Emiratis need to be given the funding as well as the space to express themselves. A lot of times, young Arabs imitate the American style and people of other nationalities. Instead, they should be encouraged to express themselves as they are."

Jimmy Joseph, the director of the short film said that he did not think this movie would go viral.
Halim Qayad, the marketing manager of Abu Dhabi Higher Colleges of Technology and the actor who played the role of the 'arbaab' (a term expatriates use to call Emiratis) in the movie, was also the first Emirati to make a short film in 1988. He said: "I've always been interested in movie making. My first short film was called Night of Fear, and the second one, a feature film called Stone age man lost."
Qayad added: "My ambition is to be a worldwide filmmaker. I want to do many international movies, and one day, I want to pursue it seriously." Speaking about Shawarma, he said, "Jimmy is a former colleague. When he told me about the script, I was intrigued. I asked him who is playing the role of the 'arbab', and when I heard it might be another Malayalee, I told him I want to do it. The story showcases many local issues of Malayalees and Emiratis."
Kavil, who wrote the script with James said: "As a journalist, I've come across so many stories like these. It is a story that deserved to be told. Today, Kutty is back home with his family, but more deserve to be with theirs, too."
Shawarma in a nut-shell
Emirati actors and producers have collaborated with Indian filmmakers and actors to create Shawarma, which narrates the story of Manu whose biggest dream is to return home to his mother and feed her his famous shawarma. However, a gruelling work schedule and hectic lifestyle did not give him the freedom to do so. He tries to compete in a radio competition that would allow him to bring his mum back home. However, he loses the contest.
Manu's shawarma is very popular, and its recipe is known only to him. He admits to another character that it is his love for his mother which inspires him to make the delicious shawarmas. Towards the end, Manu's Emirati shop owner, his immediate manager, and an English newspaper journalist get together to surprise Manu and bring his mother to the UAE.
Set in the beachside of Khor Fakkan, Sharjah, the 30-minute short film has already won two awards at the Kochi Short Film Festival. "The movie won second in the best movie category and UAE resident Kabir Avran scooped the best actor title," said Jimmy Joseph, the director of the short film. He added: "The story is a tribute to every shawarma cook in the country. Every single one of them has a similar story, and it deserves to be told."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai