Mogul Mowgli
| Mogul Mowgli | |
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| Directed by | Bassam Tariq |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Anika Summerson |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Paul Corley |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | BFI Distribution |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
Mogul Mowgli is a 2020 drama film directed by Bassam Tariq and written by Tariq and Riz Ahmed.[2] It stars Ahmed, Alyy Khan, Sudha Bhuchar, Nabhaan Rizwan, and Anjana Vasan. It tells the story of a British-Pakistani rapper who is struck down by a disease. The film had its world premiere in the Panorama section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2020.[1]
Plot
Zed is a British-Pakistani rapper who is based in New York. Before his world tour begins, he gets an autoimmune disease. He returns to see his Pakistani family in London.
Cast
- Riz Ahmed as Zed
- Alyy Khan as Bashir
- Sudha Bhuchar as Nasra
- Nabhaan Rizwan as RPG
- Anjana Vasan as Vaseem
- Aiysha Hart as Bina
- Hussain Manawer as Bilal
- Kiran Sonia Sawar as Asma
- Jeff Mirza as Ghulab Mian
Production
The idea for the film first began in 2017 when Riz Ahmed met Bassam Tariq.[3] The film was tentatively titled Mughal Mowgli.[4][5] In March 2019, it was announced Ahmed would star in the film, with Tariq directing from a screenplay by himself and Ahmed.[6] Thomas Benski, Bennett McGhee, Michael Peay and Ahmed will produce the film, under their Pulse Films and Left Handed Films banners, while BBC Films, Cinereach, Vice Media, and RYOT Films will also produce.[6] That same month, Aiysha Hart, Anjana Vasan, Sudha Bhuchar, Alyy Khan, and Nabhaan Rizwan joined the cast of the film.[7] Production began that same month.[7]
Release
The film had its world premiere in the Panorama section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2020.[1][8] In August 2020, BFI Distribution acquired U.K. distribution rights to the film.[9]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 4 reviews, with a weighted average of 8/10.[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11]
Stephen Dalton of The Hollywood Reporter commented that "Although Mogul Mowgli is an admirably ambitious effort overall, a more complex, colorful, daring film seems to be trapped just below the surface."[12] Guy Lodge of Variety wrote, "This is gutsy, spiky, imperfect independent filmmaking that finds the formal gusto to complement and buoy its star's aggressive dynamism: Ahmed affirms his standing as one of Britain's most vital, risky actors, even in a role we thought we'd already seen him play."[13]
References
- ^ a b c "Mogul Mowgli". Berlin International Film Festival. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (February 21, 2020). "Riz Ahmed on Co-Writing Berlin Entry 'Mogul Mowgli' and Pushing for More Representation Onscreen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Rico, Klaritza (February 22, 2020). "'Mogul Mowgli' Star Riz Ahmed Aims to Open Conversations With Movies, Music". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (March 5, 2019). "Riz Ahmed to Play Rapper in Pulse Films' 'Mughal Mowgli' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Grater, Tom (January 21, 2020). "Berlin Film Festival Adds Riz Ahmed Pic 'Mogul Mowgli', Oleg Sentsov-Directed 'Numbers'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ a b McNary, Dave (March 5, 2019). "Riz Ahmed to Star in, Produce Music Drama 'Mughal Mowgli'". Variety. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- ^ a b Grater, Tom (March 21, 2019). "UK rap drama 'Mughal Mowgli' finalises cast with 'Informer', 'Sex Education', 'Colette' actors (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
- ^ "Crossing Borders". Berlin International Film Festival. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (August 14, 2020). "BFI Distribution Picks Up Riz Ahmed's 'Mogul Mowgli' for U.K." The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
- ^ "Mogul Mowgli". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ "Mogul Mowgli". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ Dalton, Stephen (February 21, 2020). "'Mogul Mowgli': Film Review | Berlin 2020". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ^ Lodge, Guy (February 21, 2020). "'Mogul Mowgli': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
External links
- Mogul Mowgli at IMDb