A scene from Punjabi movie, "Virsa"
I am so excited to share with all of you my father’s latest project and first feature length film, Virsa, which will be one of the selected films to open the Dallas International Film Festival on April 10th. He executive produced this love story that also deals with the trials of living in a multi-generational Punjabi family struggling with raising children in the western world while trying to hold on to cultural traditions and ideals. There is more information below about the film and you can click here to purchase tickets to the screening in Dallas. I hope to see you there!
DALLAS DOCTOR’S FIRST FEATURE FOREIGN FILM, VIRSA ACCEPTED INTO COMPETITION TO THE PRESTIGIOUS DALLAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL.
The World Premiere of Virsa will debut at the Dallas International Film Festival on April 10, 2010 at 8 pm as an official World Cinema Selection and Feature in Competition. On March 18, 2010 the Dallas International Film Festival announced the 11 day film festival will feature 153 feature film and shorts with 170 screenings. Within the World Cinema Selections, will debut Virsa, a film executive produced by Dallas-native, Amanullah Khan M.D; PhD, under his entertainment company, One World Entertainment. The Punjabi language with English subtitles film will debut on April 10, 2010 at 8 pm at The Landmark Magnolia Theatre in Dallas West Village with a second screening on April 12, 2010 at 4:15 pm at the same theater. Tickets are now on available at http://dallasfilm.org/ Dr. Khan’s Virsa will debut as part of the Dallas International Film Festival’s “Super Saturday Presentations”, being one of seven featured films premiering on Saturday, April 10, 2010 including such selections as HOLD directed by Frank Mosely; Roadside Attractions’ THE JONESES, written and directed by Derrick Borte and starring Demi Moore, David Duchovny, Gary Cole, Lauren Hutton and Amber Heard; and WAITING FOR FOREVER Directed by James Keach and starring Rachel Bilson, Richard Jenkins, Blythe Danner, Nikki Blonsky and Jamie King.
The World Premiere screening will follow with a hosted VIP reception produced by Hollywood event entertainment firm, A-List Communications, who has been engaged by One World Entertainment to handle the press and events for the film within the U.S. Invitations for the screening and premiere will be sent next week. Musical Director of Virsa and Pakistani singing sensation, Jawad Ahmed, has confirmed attendance to the premiere screening and will be performing a selection from the soundtrack at the after-party.
Virsa is the first truly international Punjabi film with cast and crew from India, Pakistan and Australia with scheduled cinematic release in Pakistan and India to follow the festival on May 7, 2010. Produced by Dr. Khan’s One World Entertainment in partnership with Wize Mindz Entertainment, Virsa was shot extensively in Australia with post-production completed in Mumbai, India offering viewers of Punjabi films an international cinematic experience like never before seen in Punjabi film. Virsa is directed by Pankaj Batra and also marks the launch of Aarya Babbar into Punjabi films. Opposite him is Mehreen Raheal, a very well known model, actress, anchor and writer, she is one of the best known faces in Pakistan. The film also stars Gulshan Grover, Kanwaljit Singh and Naumaan Ijaz, all highly acclaimed actors in Pakistan and India. Virsa also brings to India the foot-tapping music of Jawad Ahmad, the extremely popular and well-known singer-composer from Pakistan with featured tracks from the film already topping the charts in Pakistan.
Dr. Amanullah Khan is thrilled with the honor to debut the film in his home city of Dallas and cites “The essence of the Punjab land, [a fertile agricultural province which strides across both India and Pakistan], where I was born, is part of my being. My appreciation for the people of Punjab and my love for Punjabi language (my mother tongue) culminated in my desire to produce VIRSA. The story revolves around the budding love affair of a Punjabi couple living in Australia and how it is affected by the stresses and strains of their shrinking Punjabi culture across three generations of family members. It’s a story very familiar to mine. I too left Pakistan for America where I met my American wife and had three beautiful daughters and later joined by my Punjabi brothers, sisters and cousins pursuing a life in America. We are all challenged to keep a balance of embracing our heritage and teaching those traditions and values to our children while embracing the American customs, religions and trends we too encounter and share with our children, friends and colleagues.” Dr. Khan further adds, “I am proud to see the devotion, commitment and impressive performance of all the cast and joint India and Pakistani crew be bestowed with this honor. The completion of this movie is a fine example of international team work and hope the Indian, Pakistani and World audience accept this film in gesture to embrace cultural differences and better Pakistan & India’s relations.”
ABOUT ONE WORLD ENTERTAINMENT & AMANULLAH KHAN M.D; PhD
One World Entertainment was setup as a film production company with the explicit purpose of bringing together the
best of cinematic talent from around the world under its banner and to give the viewers an international cinematic
experience. It has provided such a platform in producing its new movie “Virsa”. Set up in 2007, One World
Entertainment is a brainchild of Dr. Amanullah Khan, a renowned physician in the field of oncology and hematology
and currently the President of Cancer Center Associates, a private physicians’ group in Dallas. In addition to his busy
medical practice, Dr. Khan has served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders; by governor’s appointment he has served his home state of Texas as a member of the Texas Health Care
Information Council, Texas Board of Health, Governor’s Task Force on Homeland Security and Texas Medical Board.
Additionally, he has received numerous awards including the Honorary Citizenship Award by the Mayor of Dallas, the
Presidential Gold Medal awarded by the Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Outstanding Contribution in
Medicine award by the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce. He is a published Punjabi Poet and his
book Mukar Gayian Nain Shawaan was published in 2004.
ABOUT A-LIST COMMUNICATIONS
A-List Communications (www.a-listcommuniations.com) is a full-service Consulting, Special Events &
Communications Agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York City. With over 15 years of Global Agency
experience, A-List Communications specializes in delivering results-driven communication strategies, and globally
recognized celebrities that elevate their clients to the A-List. Core to A-List Communications success is delivering
“Brand Integration” services across a portfolio of propriety Branded Entertainment programs across fashion, sports, film
and entertainment.
ABOUT THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY:
The Dallas Film Society celebrates films and their impact on society. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Dallas
Film Society recognizes and honors filmmakers for their achievements in enhancing the creative community, provides
educational programs to students to develop better understanding of the role of film in today’s world, and promotes the
City of Dallas and its commitment to the art of filmmaking. The annual DALLAS International Film Festival, to be held
April 8 -18, 2010, is a presentation of The Dallas Film Society. In addition to producing one of the largest festivals in
the Southwest, The Society produces numerous year round events, screening series and partnership programs with arts
organizations around the city. For more information, visit www.dallasfilm.org
