When Adur Productions released "Darya Kay Iss Paar" (This Bank of The River) in 2022, it entered a space that Pakistani cinema had largely avoided. Mental health, particularly depression and suicide among youth, remains one of the most stigmatized subjects in South Asian culture. Families rarely speak of it openly, communities often dismiss it as weakness, and the healthcare infrastructure to address it is woefully inadequate, especially in rural areas. Against this backdrop, the short film directed by Shoaib Sultan and produced by Nighat Akbar Shah offered something rare: an honest, compassionate, and unflinching portrayal of a young person in crisis.
The film stars Hiba Aziz in a performance that critics described as both vulnerable and powerful. Set against the stark beauty of northern Pakistan's river valleys, the narrative follows a young woman grappling with depression in a community that has no language for what she is experiencing. The river itself becomes a central metaphor, representing both the boundary between despair and hope and the irreversible current of decisions made in moments of darkness. Sultan's direction avoids melodrama, instead trusting the landscape and Aziz's restrained performance to convey the emotional weight of the story.
The response to "Darya Kay Iss Paar" exceeded all expectations. The film screened at multiple international film festivals, earning awards and critical praise for its courage and sensitivity. Reviewers called it "bold" and "insightful," recognizing not just its artistic merit but its social importance. For many audience members, particularly those from South Asian backgrounds, the film opened conversations that had long been suppressed. Screenings were often followed by discussions about mental health resources, cultural barriers to seeking help, and the role of art in destigmatizing psychological struggles.
For Nighat Akbar Shah, the film's impact validated the founding vision of Adur Productions. "We started this company to tell stories that matter," Shah reflected. "The reaction to 'Darya Kay Iss Paar' showed us that audiences are hungry for honesty. They want films that reflect real life, not just fantasy." The success of the short film also demonstrated that socially conscious filmmaking could achieve both critical recognition and audience engagement, a lesson that would inform every subsequent Adur Productions project.
Pakistan's youth mental health crisis continues to worsen. Studies suggest that suicide rates among young Pakistanis have risen significantly in recent years, particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to mental health services is virtually nonexistent. "Darya Kay Iss Paar" remains a vital contribution to the conversation, a twenty-minute film that has done more to raise awareness of the issue than years of public health campaigns. It stands as proof that cinema, at its best, can save lives.