Gul Makai trailer: This biopic on Malala Yousafzai promises to be inspiring

The teaser of director Amjad Khan’s Gul Makai (2020) gave a good introduction of the film’s subject, which is the real-life story of the Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai. The trailer of the movie makes it clear that it’s made while keeping in mind the mainstream Indian audience. 

For those not in the know, Malala Yousafzai hails from the Swat Valley in Pakistan. The film sees Atul Kulkarni and Divya Dutta play her parents. During Yousafzai’s growing up years, the Taliban forces created havoc in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 

Despite her young age, Yousafzai starts a movement against them by advocating the need for education. As said in the trailer, the Taliban leaders are against educating girls as they fear they won’t succeed in brainwashing educated youngsters. Her activities obviously infuriated the Taliban leaders and she gets a bullet in her head when she was just 15 [this incident is hinted at the trailer]. 

Going by the trailer, it is clear that the makers have dramatized Yousafzai’s story. But the mainstream treatment doesn’t overshadow the seriousness of the issue here. You feel and root for the protagonist. The only issue is with the poor VFX in scenes where helicopter and blasts are shown. 

Reem Shaikh plays the titular character and she fits the bill. She not only resembles Yousafza, but also seems to have succeeded in bringing the feel of the character. The casting of Mukesh Rishi as a Talibani leader is questionable. Not that he appears bad, it's just that he has played similar characters in Hindi and south Indian films too many times for almost two decades now. 

Produced by Jayantilal Gada, Gul Makai will be releasing on 31 January. Watch the trailer and let us know if you would be watching the film: