Shoaib Mansoor’s ‘Bol’ is the second instalment to the program of films featured as part of the RealFilms programme.

It is being shown at the Drum in partnership with The South Asian Alliance and the Indian Workers Association bring you three critically acclaimed films followed by a post screening Q & A panel discussion.

Shoaib Mansoor’s debut film masterpiece Khuda Kay Liye, which also launched the RealFilm program, had the audience sit up and take notice of his work. Bol, his latest film, is equally thought-provoking, compelling and forthright. Having broken Pakistan’s box office records its gripped audiences across the globe after its world wide release.

The story unveils in flashbacks; as Zainab Khan narrates her life history to the media, minutes before being sentenced to death.

Born in a conservative Muslim family, Zainab is the eldest amongst half a dozen daughters of Hakim.

The father's quest for a male successor is thwarted when a son is born but with effeminate traits.

The son; Saifee, grows up in the shadow of his father and is shunned by him.

Crippling poverty is compounded by a downward chain of events, the family face insurmountable odds, it falls on Zainab to find a way out for her mother and her siblings. But first she must stand up against her dogmatic, bigoted, violent father and ask him ‘why he continues to give birth to so many mouths when he has no means to feed them?’.

On the whole, Bol is a courageous film that has the guts to expose issues plaguing the society.

It raises questions, challenges the age-old customs and mirrors a reality most convincingly.

The RealFilm program is supported by the South Asian Alliance, a Birmingham based organisation dedicated to promoting understanding and harmony amongst Birmingham’s diverse communities, while other participating organisations include the Indian Workers’ Association and SureShots Media.

The RealFilm program seeks to raise awareness of cutting edge South Asian film making and provide opportunities for communities to debate the controversial issues raised through an interactive post-show discussion facilitated by the South Asian Alliance.

Shoaib Mansoor, one of the best storytellers of our times has set a very high standard; Bol has a gripping narrative as it showcases the struggle, agony and the determination of a family to survive against all odds.

The twists and turns in the bold and captivating plot leaves you gripped till the end and is undoubtedly one of the best realistic cinemas of our times.

Shoaib Mansoor, Director of ‘Bol’ says, “Having been so blessed in life, I often think of the things that I should be grateful for.

"The list always seems to be never ending, but invariably it ends at one thing; that I was born as a MAN.

"Nothing in the world scares me more than the thought of being born a woman or a eunuch in a country like Pakistan, where obscurantism the deep roots.

"It is very unfortunate that we make tall claims, full of pride, about the rights of woman granted by our religion and yet when I look around in underdeveloped Muslim countries in general and Pakistan in particular. I find things totally the opposite.

Tragically, our interpretation and application of religion seems to begin and end with woman. Leave the 5% urban educated elite aside, woman seems to be the playground (battleground) where we practice a medieval form of religion".

Title: Bol.

Date & Time: Sat 24 Mar, 7pm.

Ticket Prices:£5 (£4).

Director: Shoaib Mansoor.

Running time:160 minutes.

Certificate: 15.

Venue: The Drum | 144 Potters Lane | Aston | Birmingham | B6 4UU.

Box Office: 0121 333 2444.

Online Bookings: www.the-drum.org.uk