Pakistani short/Drama

An important
calculation

A young daughter of the house taunts her young sister-in-law for not providing anything to the family in dowry. There starts a conversation between the two that how has the society fallen victim to materialism and failed to signify moral and intellectual capabilities of the people by preferring dowry to education and high intellectual standard.

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Directed by

Aamir Khan Millizai

Starring

Rabea Tahir
Amna Ayub

language

Urdu

FILMED IN

Lahore, Pakistan

ON making “an important calculation”

BY AAMIR KHAN MILLIZAI

The inspiration behind this film was the still-prevalent system of dowry in our country, Pakistan. A huge number of girls face different kinds of discrimination related to dowry all over Pakistan every year. Some cannot even marry; others, despite being married, lead a very difficult life just because of their inability to provide some material objects for their grooms.

A lot of women commit suicide across Pakistan every year and these numbers are mostly underreported. Such issues must be brought forth before the people and let them know about their severity. Behind the scenes process was just amazing and full of new experiences and learning. The casts were co-operative and every contributor in the team did his/her absolute level best to make a good film.

ON “an important calculation”
An Important Calculation is a film that portrays what is possibly a middle class household. The “woman of the house” is making tea at the beginning of the film when her sister-in-law emerges from her bedroom wearing a “the world is female” shirt while giving a diatribe on how her brother could have gotten a better match. “Alina was much better” because her father was willing to offer ten lakh for the match. 

The older sister-in-law sits down with the tea and cunningly challenges the notion that she does not bring value to the house, despite the accusations that she doesn’t do her housework on time or as expected. She calculates what her father invested in her upbringing to her college tuition. When the younger sister-in-law is not attempting to keep up with the tally in her head, she attempts to interject, only to be met with another number. The elder mentions that there are women who suffer because they cannot afford to pay dowry. 

She poses the question of what a woman is worth, implying that the value isn’t just about her expectations to do housework for the entire family or even the education she might have received. The line “you’re a woman, too” brings tears to the younger sister-in-law before the elder says that she’s ready to leave since she’s seen as useless; valueless. But not before reminding the younger one that she should drink her tea before it gets cold.

In this 5 minute short, Millizai provokes intrigue into the social backdrop of dowry in Pakistan. For those unfamiliar with the tradition or how it places itself in Pakistani society, there’s much to learn about the custom.

About the Director

Aamir Khan Millizai is a young and talented artist who hails from a remote area of Loralai Balochistan Pakistan. Millizai is a passionate film maker who wants to experiment on multiple genres. He believes one can make a bigger difference through films by changing their perspectives. This way, he has embarked on a noble ambition to make quality films based on quality subjects. He studies at National College of arts Lahore. The institution is famous for producing extraordinary talent in Pakistan. Millizai wants to educate people through his films.

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directed by 
AAMIR KHAN MILLIZAI
AN IMPORTANT CALCULATION
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