Hemal Ashar (MID-DAY; August 31, 2016)

It has been a week since Shabana Azmi wrapped up shooting for her role in a lesbian themed movie, Signature Move, set in Chicago (US). Back in Mumbai after a 13-day shoot, Shabana speaks to hitlist about the movie, essentially the story of a Pakistani-American Muslim lesbian, Zaynab, played by Fawzia Mirza, (co-writer of the film), who hides two things from her conservative mother (Shabana) — budding relationship with a Mexican- American woman and growing fascination with Lucha Libre, a form of professional wrestling.

What made you say yes to the film?
It was Fawzia Mirza’s passion and commitment. Then, because I had done Fire earlier, I was comfortable with idea of a lesbian film, though in Signature Move I play a conservative mother, who does not know her daughter (Fawzia) is a lesbian. I thought it was really interesting.

Signature Move has a tiny crew, most of them women…
Yes, there was a ‘different’ kind of vibe on set. Without undermining men, because of so many women, there was a comfort level. Having said that, good filmmaking is always gender-neutral. In fact, the best directors are those that have the ‘yin and yang’ balance within them. I also had a terrific equation with the film’s director, Jennifer Reeder.

It is important that these stories be told.
Absolutely. Fawzia told me there is so little of our voices that are audible. Even in the US, there were two radio shows about this film which were full of prejudice. Yet, today here, when I tell my young friends that I am doing such a project, they say, ‘Oh wow, so cooool!’ This is so different from Fire, those were such troubled times. We see some of this change in our films too, where gay characters are more realistic and not the caricatures that they were earlier.

Is Signature Move a festival film, or intended for theatres?
Oh, I think it will be embraced by festivals first, but be shown at theatres too. It has very good credentials and mentored by Tribeca Films. It is not just a cause kind of film; it is entertaining, has a lot of humour and there are heavyweight names behind the project. Eventually, I hope it comes to India, post its release, which should be March next year.


Fawzia Mirza with her reel love interest, Sari Sanchez

Pakistani filmmaker Fawzia Mirza on her film that deals with homosexuality, and finding solace with her partner Ayesha
Subhash K Jha (DNA; August 23, 2016)

The spirited Fawzia Mirza who is currently shooting Signature Move in Chicago with Shabana Azmi introduces herself as “a lesbian, Muslim, Pakistani, actor, activist, writer, producer, lawyer and creature of passion.” And that’s quite a ferocious fusion of seriously challenging and threatening roles for Fawzia, whose short films and a one-woman play entitled Me, My Mom & Sharmila — a homage to Sharmila Tagore — have stirred debates and incited discussion among South Asians all over the world.

But Fawzia sees no harm in assuming all the roles that she has assigned herself. “I was told by everyone who mattered that it was dangerous for me to an out-of-the-closet lesbian Pakistani in America. But I’ve never played the game by the rules. I wanted to be all the things that I saw myself being. And if some of my roles made other people uncomfortable, so be it. As long as I am comfortable being a Pakistani lesbian, who is also an activist and an actress, I see no reason for anyone to be upset about it.”

Upset, her Pakistani brethren certainly were. This, Fawzia discovered when she went to her country of origin with her play Me, My Mom & Sharmila. “I am a Canadian by birth. But my ties with my heritage in Pakistan are very strong. No one can take away my lineage and my roots from me. I’ve been to Pakistan eight times to visit my relatives. The one occasion when I faced protests and threats in Pakistan was when I took the play there. I couldn’t perform it in areas populated by Punjabis. It was an eye-opener.”

The trollers haven’t made Fawzia’s life easy either. “There is so much hatred on the social network. My initial instincts were to block the ugly attacks on my sexuality, my nationality, my work and my identity. But instead I chose to tackle the hatred, try to reason with it.”

This is when she realised her moves as an individual and an artiste are not going to please everyone. “The threat is everywhere, not just in Pakistan. But that won’t stop me from being the person I am and doing the things I want to do.”

High on her wishlist is a visit to India. “I’ve grown up on tales of India and Bollywood. I’ve never visited India. But I plan to tour the entire country soon, especially now when I’ve worked with Shabanaji. I find my bonding with India stronger than ever. I hope I get a visa to travel in India.”

Fawzia’s mother on whom Shabana’s character in Signature Move is based is the biggest Sharmila Tagore fan. “My play was based on my mother’s adoration of Sharmila. It was an unforgettable moment in my life when Sharmilaji came to see my play in October 2015 in Chicago. Initially, she took notes, then she just watched. It was surreal.”

Fawzia’s mother figures prominently in her film which the filmmaker says is an amalgamation of many people and situations in her life. “I find the cultural diversity in America very fascinating. Not only are Indians and Pakistanis very similar, but even Mexicans are bonded by food and family as we are. The film has characters I know personally.”

Fawzia’s film is also about the Mexican form of wrestling Lucha Libre. She says, “Yes, I find female wrestling such an underrated and misunderstood practice. My character’s lover is a Mexican-American, and that’s where the wrestling comes”.

In real life, Fawzia has found immense solace and peace with her soul mate Ayesha. “She has brought so much happiness and comfort in my life. I am grateful for all that I have. Including the chance to work with the wonderful Shabana Azmi in my first feature film. Jennifer Reeder, who is celebrated for her short films, also makes her feature film directorial debut with Signature Move. I guess I just got lucky.”

Subhash K Jha (DNA; August 16, 2016)


In Pakistani writer-director-actress Fawzia Mirza’s American production entitled Signature Move, Shabana plays mother to a lesbian daughter Fawzia. Fawzia introduces herself as “lesbian, Muslim, Pakistani, actor, activist, writer, producer, lawyer and creature of passion.”

The film, which seems autobiographical, casts Shabana as a mother who watches television soaps all day long and seems oblivious to the fact that her daughter is a lesbian and in a relationship with Mexican girl, who is a wrestler.

Last week, Shabana left for Chicago for the shoot.