Agnes Kenney is a powerhouse of talent, whose can-do attitude reflects in the challenges she takes head-on with a vengeance and positive attitude as a producer. Some of these same attributes were on display in the title character of the film Nayab. So it doesn’t come as a surprise to discover that Agnes also drew inspiration from her own life experiences in the production of the film…

As the producer of the women-centric film Nayab, what socially motivated message did you wish to send across?

Agnes Kenney: That Nayab is all about chasing your dreams and not giving up! Also, about the love between a sister [Nayab] and a brother [Akbar], and the support a brother gives his sister in order to achieve her dreams in the face of resistance [from her parents] and the challenges of succeeding in a high-performance sport. There are a number of strong messages in Nayab — don’t be afraid to have a dream, work hard to achieve it, align with those who will support and encourage you, and respect the concerns of your elders but don’t let them derail your ambitions. I believe such a “can do” attitude supports both personal development and the advancement of our society.

Do the undercurrents in Nayab reflect your own dreams, hopes and aspirations for your daughter?

AK: The main theme of my life is aligned with the social undercurrents of Nayab, although I didn’t produce the movie because of that alignment! I’m an optimist, I have goals that I want to achieve, I’m respectful of our traditions but do not let them block me. I’m teaching my daughter Minhal the same “can do” attitude. We are both very fortunate to have my husband and mentor [David Kenney] in our lives. He reinforces my self-belief and inner strength to push ahead with my ambitions, and encourages our daughter in her studies. He wants Minhal to be smart and savvy in a tough world.

Agnes Kenney, the producer of recent fi lm Nayab, has the same drive and ambition that her fi lm’s heroine displayed and is all about not giving up

Nayab explores relationships between individuals besides career goals for today’s young women, all inspired by true events. Are these the kind of stories you want to tell in the future as well?

AK: First and foremost, we want to provide the audience with great entertainment. Nayab gives our audience something they can relate to, something which inspires, and content which provokes some thought and reflection. However, we are not restricting ourselves to that genre, it depends on the storyline, but anything is possible: action, adventure, social drama, even comedy. Variety is the spice of life!

How were things for you when you were growing up and what influences shaped/ moulded you into the independent woman that you are today?

AK: My father was a wonderful influence. He was loving, supportive, a shoulder to cry on, and taught me real-life lessons. My mother is a disciplinarian, a school teacher who ensured I stuck to my studies and reached my full potential academically. My achievements at school set me up for my working life.

I had Minhal when I was in my early 20s, and was divorced shortly thereafter. Being a single mother in Pakistan is not easy, as the woman is generally blamed for the marital break-up, and the challenges of an independent life with a small child are many. However, I worked hard to earn a living to support us, and had a number of close friends and work colleagues who gave me moral and material support to make it through the tough times.

What change do you seek in our society for the betterment of women in general?

AK: More educational opportunities for women and more job opportunities that utilise a woman’s talents to the full and help her develop her full potential. I believe that, by utilising the many talents of our women, it will help with the development of our country. If you look at what is happening in Saudi Arabia today, it is no coincidence that the acceleration of economic development has coincided with the movement of women into the workforce.

As a businesswoman and professional, what are the ground realities you face on a daily basis?

AK: The challenges I face in my daily life are many and varied. I need to get the work/life balance right, as my family and home life is important to me. On the work side, promoting our services and winning new business is key, along with leading and inspiring the team to deliver exceptional performance. We are very much a people business, and I believe that happy and motivated team members result in satisfied customers who give us repeat business. The tenacity and talent that Nayab’s character demonstrates in the movie certainly attracted me to the story, as I think most women — including me — can identify with the challenges she faced.

How was the experience of working with the Nayab team, cast and crew?

AK: Making a movie is not easy! We put together some of the most talented people in our industry, shot the film in 54 days — although pre- and post-production processes add significantly to that timeline — and promoted it strongly around Pakistan and internationally. The production team was an inspiration, working tirelessly to overcome the many logistical problems that arose along the way. Much of the movie was shot on location, which is naturally an “uncontrolled” environment that needs a lot of hands-on management. I’m particularly proud of the wedding dance scene outside Frere Hall in Karachi, which is an amazing cinematographic achievement.

What future projects do you have in the pipeline?

AK: We have a number of projects in the pipeline under the Kenneyz Productions banner. We are evaluating scripts for our next feature film, and are also moving into the production of music videos, TV dramas and TVCs [TV commercials], as we have both the equipment and creative talent to operate in these areas.

Film is a very strong medium and a catalyst for change. Comment.

AK: Agreed! We want to be a leader in strengthening the Pakistan film industry. We are determined to do our bit as content creators, but we also need more cinemas in the country. I fully appreciate that many people now prefer to watch a film on Netflix or other OTT platforms, and we ourselves will produce for such platforms, but I also believe that going out to the cinema is an experience which should not be lost.

Why stop at films? How do TV dramas fit into the landscape? And which ones inspired you?

AK: We will not stop at films. We want to be involved in all different kinds of content creation. We will go where the demand is, and cater for what the audience wants to see. Our lead in Nayab — Yumna Zaidi — is a successful TV actress and my appreciation of her talents in drama acting led her to be chosen to play the title role of Nayab. Pakistan is full of talented artists, such as Adnan Siddiqui, Humayun Saeed, Saba Qamar, Sajal Aly, Bilal Abbas and so on. My all time favourite TV dramas are Pyar Kay Sadqay, Fitoor and Rangreza.

Published in Dawn, ICON, May 12th, 2024