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The Buraq That Can't Fly
Zeed
Release year: 2024
Run time: 25 minutes
Film type: Fiction
Synopsis
In the bustling city of Hong Kong, a young family navigates the complexities of life, love, and cultural identity. The story centres around Ayesha, a passionate storyteller and mother who uses her DV camera to capture the beauty and stories around her. Her husband, Niyas, and their son, Rumi, are her constant companions on this journey. The film opens with a heartwarming scene of Niyas and his family settling into their new life in Hong Kong. As they adjust to the fast-paced city, they find solace in their cultural traditions and the warmth of their community. Ayesha's love for storytelling shines as she captures precious moments on her camera, much to the chagrin of her neighbour, Nargis, who finds Ayesha's actions immodest. Despite the criticism, Ayesha continues documenting her family's life, finding joy in simple moments and the stories they create together. Her bond with Rumi deepens as they weave imaginative tales, including one about a mythical creature called the Buraq. This tale becomes a metaphor for Ayesha's journey of self-discovery and empowerment. As tensions rise with Nargis, Ayesha struggles to balance her passion with societal expectations. Niyas recognises the importance of Ayesha's creative expression and supports her endeavours, helping to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity. The film culminates in a touching scene where the family and neighbours gather to watch Ayesha's footage. Through Rumi's narration, the story of the Buraq unfolds, symbolising the family's journey and Ayesha's realisation of her strength and potential. The Buraq That Can't Fly is a poignant exploration of identity, creativity, and the power of storytelling. It celebrates the beauty of cultural heritage while embracing the freedom to express oneself in a rapidly changing world.
Director biography
Zeed is a Hong Kong–born Indian filmmaker whose work stands out for its emotional depth and lyrical visual storytelling. With a background in pharmaceutical sciences and fluency in English, Tamil, Malayalam, and Hindi, Zeed brings a unique cultural and intellectual richness to his films.
His short The Buraq That Can’t Fly blends themes of cultural displacement and imagination with a poetic realism, earning a 5-star review from Short Films Matter. In Dead With a Side of Saudade, Zeed shifts gears, exploring grief and transience with subtle humor and emotional restraint. The film won at the Kollywood International Film Festival, received a Special Mention at the Panorama Film Festival of Bengaluru (2024), and was a semi-finalist at other festivals.
Zeed was first recognized in 2014 as a finalist at the India Mobile Film Festival for his short minutes. Since then, he has written, directed, and acted in several independent projects, including the anthology Fallen Leaves, Broken Lighters, which premiered in Hong Kong. There, he directed the segment Dead With a Side of Saudade and acted in Fleeting Impermanence. He also appears in the HK feature film The Sunny Side of the Street (2022).
Now developing his debut feature film, Zeed continues to explore the in-between spaces of realism and fantasy, tradition and reinvention — always with a voice that feels both intimate and universal.