A documentary celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of legendary Pakistani actor, broadcaster and theatre icon Zia Mohyeddin will make its international debut at the 49th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) in New York later this month, marking a major milestone for one of Pakistan’s most ambitious documentary projects.
After spending nearly 15 years developing the film, director Umar Riaz and his team at Asna Pictures have completed The Colour of My Heart (Rung Hai Dil Ka Mere Dil Ka), a feature length documentary that explores Mohyeddin’s artistic journey, his enduring love for Urdu poetry and his lasting influence on Pakistan’s cultural landscape. The film will screen on August 9 at 2pm local time, the final day of the festival, which runs from July 30 to August 9.
Fifteen years in the making
Announcing the selection on Instagram, Riaz described the international premiere as a deeply personal moment for his team.
He wrote that they “could not have wished for a more special return” of the documentary to New York, where the project first began as his university film thesis more than a decade ago. He added that much of the documentary’s post production also took place in the city.
The filmmaker also said the team looked forward to celebrating the achievement alongside colleagues in New York while giving audiences “a window into a vital part of [Pakistani] culture”
The documentary traces Mohyeddin’s remarkable life between Pakistan and the United Kingdom. It highlights his dedication to theatre, television, literature and the preservation of Urdu poetry. The narrative also weaves the timeless poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz into the story, reflecting Mohyeddin’s lifelong passion for bringing classical Urdu literature to new generations.
Presented by the late scholar and human rights activist Dr Arfa Sayeda Zehra, the film serves as both a tribute to Pakistan’s cultural giants and an intimate portrait of a complex artist whose work continues to inspire audiences years after his death.
Tribute to a cultural icon
Zia Mohyeddin passed away on February 13, 2023, at the age of 91. During a career spanning more than six decades, he earned international recognition through theatre, television and film. He appeared in the Hollywood classic Lawrence of Arabia, hosted the acclaimed The Zia Mohyeddin Show, and later founded the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi, where he mentored generations of performers.
Rather than following a conventional biography, The Colour of My Heart focuses on Mohyeddin’s philosophy, artistic vision and relationship with language. The documentary captures his celebrated recitations of Faiz’s poetry while examining the personal experiences that shaped his creative life.
The documentary first opened in Pakistani cinemas on February 6, just days before the third anniversary of Mohyeddin’s passing. Following a limited theatrical run, Riaz plans to bring the film back to Pakistani cinemas later this autumn.
International recognition for Pakistani cinema
The film’s inclusion in AAIFF places Pakistani storytelling before one of North America’s oldest and most respected festivals dedicated to Asian and Asian American cinema. Founded in 1978, the festival showcases independent films from across Asia and the global diaspora while promoting cultural exchange through cinema.
For Riaz and his team, the New York screening represents more than an international premiere. It also brings the documentary back to the city where the project first took shape, completing a journey that began 15 years ago and now introduces Zia Mohyeddin’s remarkable legacy to audiences from around the world.
