In Sarzameen, director Kayoze Irani crafts an emotional thriller set in Kashmir that’s rooted in family dynamics and patriotism. Backed by a dream cast including Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and debutant Ibrahim Ali Khan, the film promises scale, soul, and sincere storytelling
Kayoze Irani on the sets of Sarzameen
Director Kayoze Irani has stepped behind the camera for Sarzameen, a film he describes as an “emotional thriller” wrapped in the landscape of Kashmir but rooted in the delicate threads of familial drama. With a dream cast including Kajol, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Ibrahim Ali Khan, the film promises both scale and soul. In this candid chat, Irani opens up about his vision, his casting journey, and what it really means to create cinema from the heart.
“At its heart, Sarzameen is a family drama,” says Kayoze. “It’s father-son, mother-son, father-mother, that is where I’d put the film. It’s not all dham-dhoom. Yes, the background score may give that impression, but beneath it all, it’s deeply emotional. If you come into the film for the experience, I hope you walk out with the emotion.”
Though the film is set in the politically charged valley of Kashmir, Irani is clear that the film isn’t just about patriotism or spectacle, “There’s a large canvas, yes. There’s a lot of patriotism in it too. But the beating heart is that of a family.”
The dream cast
Irani beams when he speaks of his cast, especially because it aligned perfectly with his original vision. “Hand on heart, this is what I envisioned,” he said. “My writers Somil and Arun told me, ‘It will be fun to have Prithvi sir’ And I said, really? You think so? We hadn’t even met him. We had just connected.”
Prithviraj Sukumaran was shooting Aadujeevitham in Jordan when the team reached out. “He read an outline because that’s all he had time for. He called back the same evening and said, ‘I’m very, very interested. Let’s do it.’”
Kajol too, signed on almost instantly. “I finished the narration at 2 in the afternoon, and she called at 7 p.m. to say, ‘I’m on.’ Ibrahim was the same. I told him, ‘Iggy, this is my vision for you,’ and he was excited. I would not change a thing about this cast. It is what I wanted and it is what I got.”
On working with Prithviraj Sukumaran
Irani refers to Prithviraj as his “co-director,” as the latter himself is a fine filmmaker having given Malayalam cinema two of its biggest blockbusters in Lucifer and Empuraan.
“Prithvi sir is the most unbelievable person to have on set. He’ll spoil you. And he’s never there for himself, he’s there for the film,” Irani explains. “He gives me feedback about everything except himself. Maybe because he’s that good.”
“Sometimes I’d go to him on set and say, ‘Sir, I’m feeling this in the scene,’ and he’d listen and either say, ‘You’re absolutely right,’ or give a subtle suggestion. He claims I never listen to him, but I do. A lot.”
On Ibrahim Ali Khan and rising beyond trolls
Sarzameen was supposed to mark Ibrahim's debut as he shot for this film first before Nadaaniyan. However, due to injuries in the team, the film got delayed. “I believe Ibrahim has done an exceptional job in this film. This genre suits him so well. The character was sculpted for him, and he fits beautifully. Come July 25, I’m excited for him to answer his critics.," says a confident Irani.
Reflecting on the criticism that followed Ibrahim’s debut film, Irani is candid. “It gave people a lot of happiness to troll him. But when you're on the receiving end, you know how it feels. I was talking to him through all of it. I know the director and crew of that film too and they were heartbroken.”
“No one sets out to make a bad film. Everyone goes out with the best intentions. But people are allowed a mistake and they bounce back.”
Sarzameen will be available for streaming on JioHotstar from July 25.
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