Mera Lyari
| Mera Lyari | |
|---|---|
| File:Mera Lyari film poster.jpg Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Abu Aleeha |
| Produced by | Ayesha Omar |
| Written by | Abu Aleeha |
| Starring | Ayesha Omar Dananeer Mobeen Trinette Lucas Samiya Mumtaz |
Production company | Hawksbay Productions |
Release date | |
Running time | 95 minutes[3] |
| Country | Pakistan |
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Mera Lyari (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) is an upcoming Pakistani sports drama film written and directed by Abu Aleeha. It stars Ayesha Omar, Dananeer Mobeen, Samiya Mumtaz, Nayyar Ejaz, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Trinette Lucas.[4][1] It is scheduled to premiere at the UK Asian Film Festival in London on 2 May 2026 and to be released theatrically in Pakistan on 8 May 2026.[2]
The film was backed by the Sindh government[5] and announced by officials as a response to Dhurandhar, which they said misrepresented Lyari, Karachi.[6][7]
Premise
The film follows two girls in Lyari who pursue football despite family and social restrictions. Afsana defies her authoritarian father, while the orphan Kushmala faces a forced marriage. Guided by a one-legged former football captain, they train in secret for a chance to join the Pakistan Football League.[3]
Cast
- Ayesha Omar as a football coach
- Dananeer Mobeen as Afsana Baloch
- Trinette Lucas as Kushmala
- Samiya Mumtaz
- Nayyar Ejaz
- Paras Masroor
- Adnan Shah Tipu
- Shoaib Hassan
Production
In May 2025, it was reported that Dananeer Mobeen would make her cinematic debut alongside Ayesha Omer in Abu Aleeha's directed sports-thriller Behnaz.[8] The principal photography was concluded in July,[9] and took place in Lyari with mainly a local cast.[4] In December 2025, Aleeha said that the film had been completed and locked three months before the teaser for the 2025 Indian film Dhurandhar was released. He also said that Mera Lyari was shot entirely in Lyari Town and that 80 percent of its cast consisted of Lyari residents, including lead actor Shoaib Hassan, supporting actors, and local football-team members.[10]
The film's title was changed to Mera Lyari after Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced the Sindh government's backing for the film in response to Dhurandhar, a film he said misrepresented Lyari.[6] Later that month, Omar unveiled the film's first posters.[11] Coverage of the posters listed the cast as including Omer, Mobeen, Samiya Mumtaz, Nayyar Ejaz, Trinette Lucas, Paras Masroor, Adnan Shah Tipu, and Shoaib Hassan.[11]
In January 2026, Memon said the provincial government had worked on Mera Lyari, that the film had been made on a small budget, and that a theatrical release was being planned.[7] In February 2026, he referred to Mera Lyari while discussing provincial support for film projects, saying that the film portrayed the "true face of Lyari" and that its release date would be decided by the board.[12]
Release
Mera Lyari is scheduled to have its world premiere on 2 May 2026 at the 28th UK Asian Film Festival in London.[13][4] It is then scheduled for nationwide theatrical release in Pakistan on 8 May 2026.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mera Lyari, Pakistan's answer to Dhurandhar, to premiere at UK Asian Film Festival". Images. Dawn. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "'Mera Lyari' selected for screening at UK Asian Film Festival". Dunya News. 12 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mera Lyari + Q&A". BFI Southbank. British Film Institute. 22 May 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ahmed, Ashfaq (13 April 2026). "Mera Lyari: Pakistan's response to India's Dhurandhar, premiering in London". Gulf News. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sindh govt announces release of film 'Mera Layari' in Jan 2026". Radio Pakistan. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "'Mera Layari' to counter 'Dhurandhar' propaganda". The Express Tribune. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2026. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "TribuneDec" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Information Minister Sharjeel Memon says Sindh govt looking to finance projects by young filmmakers". Images. Dawn. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ "Dananeer Mobeen to star in sports thriller 'Behnaz' besides Ayesha Omer". 24 News HD. 5 May 2025.
- ↑ "It's a wrap for 'Behnaz'". The Express Tribune. 28 July 2025.
- ↑ "Is Pakistani film Mera Lyari an answer to India's Dhurandhar? Director clarifies". India Today. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ayesha Omar reveals powerful 'Mera Lyari' posters". Daily Times. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
- ↑ "Sindh govt to provide funding for quality film scripts: Sharjeel". The News International. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
- ↑ "'Mera Lyari' takes on stereotypes as it heads to UK Asian Film Festival". The Express Tribune. 13 April 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
External links
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