Different layers of Cake

We talk to Aamina Sheikh and Sanam Saeed of Pakistani film Cake which could well be a game changer. The story about a dysfunctional family showcases many dark realities of life and is sliced with humour, intensity, and great acting

arti@khaleejtimes.com

HUMAN BEINGS HAVE a natural curiosity to learn about others. No wonder, reality shows are flourishing across the world where we get a peek into the real lives of the contestants. Watching Pakistani drama Cake will give you a similar feeling as if you are a fly on the wall in somebody’s house, watching their daily routine. Cake stars Sanam Saeed, Aamina Sheikh, Adnan Malik and is directed by Asim Abbasi. This intense family drama will release in the UAE this weekend. You get a glimpse into the life of this family who have their own quirks, fights, own way of dealing with things, uncomfortable moments, angst which has been kept inside for years. The director Asim believes that this film is about aging parents. “I was inspired by my own family to a certain degree while writing this film. Though they are not exactly like that. But also many other families around me. I wanted to make a film about aging parents. That was the fundamental thing that I was trying to do. That grew and the characters started fleshing out and got their own arcs. But it really is about the passage of time.”

This film is about two sisters, one of whom lives abroad and the other is left behind in Pakistan. It showcases their conflicts in dealing with their relationships and parents.

Pakistani drama star Sanam plays the sister who lives abroad. Her character has a slight grey shade. We asked if it was easy to say yes to the film because her character is not exactly likable. What was her first instinct when the script was narrated to her? “It was a pageturner. It had me from head-on. It was relatable. It made me cry at the parts that required me to cry and it made me laugh at funny parts in between. I felt deeply connected to the film,” said the lovely Sanam who has never shied away from playing unconventional characters on television and in movies.

Aamina added, “I think we brought our own understanding of family dynamics to the film. We all have our own experiences with our parents and our siblings. And all our parents are aging and they are in the same age group. The trick was to execute it in a way that we haven’t done before. I have seen a lot of television shows and they all have similar emotions and graphs like most other South Asian dramas. Our director made us get out of our comfort zone to explore our characters.”

Adnan said that he really enjoyed the quietness that this movie and his character brought for him. “It was an unconventional role for me to play. I work as a director for a living but I enjoy acting and it’s often a way to get rid of my demons. It is always interesting for me to play someone else. Romeo is not very loud or verbose. He is solid and quiet, honest and straight up. I am the youngest child and I have spent quite a lot of time alone so I am a quiet person generally and more of an observer and that worked really well for the character.”

I wanted to make a film about aging parents... but it really is about the passage of time.” Asim Abbasi I work as a director for a living but I enjoy acting and it’s often a way to get rid of my demons.” Adnan Malik