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Fans go bananas after Zafar’s film hits the screens

Laura Shannon
14/12/2007

IT could be next stop Hollywood for a British Kashmiri director whose film premiere packed out a theatre at the Odeon last week.

Zafar Iqbal’s film Banana Boys was so popular that customers were turned away because the Sandbrook Park cinema was full.

The 31-year-old Newbold director, actor, producer and writer, had nervously awaited the premiere and could not believe the successful turnout.

He said: “It was a full house and I am over the moon. I had popped out to get something at around 6pm and my colleague called me just 20 minutes later to say there was a massive queue and the house was full. When I walked in I thought I was in the wrong theatre and they were all actually here to see something else. It was such an historical moment for me.”

Before the release of Banana Boys, the former Salford University student created a series of short films which were aired on international TV earlier this year. He recruited local talent and former fellow students to star in and help produce this first feature length film, which was based in Rochdale.

The film was shot in seven days, but it was seven years in the making from its conception through to final editing.The story is of two brothers, Aslam and Arif, who face the struggles of unemployment.
Their desperation for work leads them to make poor decisions and lands them in a trap, forever changing the course of their lives.

Mr Iqbal said: “I still can’t really believe it wasn’t all a dream, I just can’t forget about it.

“My phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people asking when the next screening is.

“I just want to sincerely apologise to all the people who couldn’t fit in and missed the screening.”

If you missed the event, you can catch a clip of the film and further information by visiting www.bananaboys.co.uk.

Mr Iqbal is also now planning a national release for the film.

He has already started working on his second feature film My Big Fat Love Story, which will have a lighter romantic comedy feel with a hint of Bollywood.

He hopes to release My Big Fat Love Story at the Odeon in December 2008.