Aitzaz Hasan Honored In Biopic “Salute”

A movie based on the life of Aitzaz Hasan of Hangu, KP, who lost his life trying to avert a suicide attack by tackling the bomber and saving many of his schoolmates, is set for public release today.

The movie, which has been directed by famed filmmaker Shahzad Rafique, pays tribute to the 16-year-old, and goes into detail about his life, experiences, family, and untimely death. It was premiered at Lahore’s Luxus Grand Cinema on Wednesday, and attracted major film industry celebrities.

Hasan’s father, who was present at the event, explained that the film will spread the message of his son’s sacrifice and bravery to millions of households in the country. In an emotional moment, he said that had such an incident taken place in a foreign land, he would back his son to do the same for his countrymen, local media reports said.

Actor Ali Mohtesham brought the protagonist to life on the film screen, while Ajab Gul and Saima Noor starred as his father and mother, respectively. Notable names include Nayyar Ejaz, Rashid Mehmood, and Pervaiz Kaleem, among others. The film was shot in real locations to keep it as authentic as possible.

An important theme in the movie is terrorism, the stubborn underlying issue that Pakistan strives to conquer. Interestingly, the biopic touches upon various elements that have favored terrorist plots and schemes, and encourages action against them.

It is heartwarming to note that the national cinema is moving towards projects that highlight problems and stories most are unwilling to work on. This lends support to industry peers to be open to new and controversial topics.

Watch Salute’s official trailer here: