Dananeer Mobeen wins Best Actress in Moscow for Mera Lyari

MOSCOW: Pakistani actress Dananeer Mobeen has won the Best Actress award at the second International Eurasian Film Awards, the Diamond Butterfly, in Moscow, for her performance in the film Mera Lyari. Along with the trophy, she received a five-carat diamond said to be worth around $250,000.

Forty-one films from 19 countries competed at the ceremony, held at the Workshop 12 theatre of renowned Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov. The biggest honour of the night, Best Film, went to the Russian film August, whose makers received a ten-carat diamond worth one million dollars. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a special video message to the participants.

A win she did not expect

Accepting the award, Dananeer said she had not expected such a big international honour. Mera Lyari, she said, holds special importance for her and the whole team because it shows the struggle of women trying to obtain their rightful rights. Speaking to Dunya News afterwards, she said the success was the result of Allah’s grace, her mother’s prayers and the hard work of the entire team.

Mera Lyari and Pakistan’s night

Directed by Abu Aleeha, Mera Lyari casts Dananeer as Afsana Baloch, a gifted footballer from Karachi’s Lyari neighbourhood. The film premiered at the UK Asian Film Festival in London in May and opened in Pakistan on 8 May; it is Dananeer’s debut film. Pakistan’s other nominated film was Shahzad Rafique’s Welcome to Punjab. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, called the win a matter of great pride and joy for Pakistan. Last year, Sonia Hussain won Best Supporting Actress at the same awards for Deemak.