Director Jawad Sharif's Statement on his film -Moklani:The Last Mohanas

My relationship with this story is deeply personal. I have spent four years building a connection with the Mohana community of Manchar Lake, not just as a filmmaker, but as someone they now treat as family. From the beginning, I knew this was more than just a film project. It was a long-term commitment. Even if I hadn’t made a documentary, I would have still found a way to share their story, because their struggles, dreams, and resilience have left a lasting impact on me.

The people in this film, especially Akbar and Hakim Zadi, are not distant subjects to me. I know them closely. I’ve sat with them through moments of silence, joy, fear, and uncertainty. We shared meals, stories, and everyday life. I gained rare and intimate access, including to the women of the community, whose voices are often unheard. That trust was earned slowly and with care. I’ve witnessed how climate change and environmental degradation have turned their lives upside down. Their lake is shrinking, the water is poisoned, and their way of life is slipping away. These are not just observations I made as a filmmaker. These are experiences that have deeply affected me. I often left the lake feeling overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted, carrying with me the weight of their disappearing world.

My perspective as a storyteller is grounded in empathy and long-term engagement. I come from a background of telling stories rooted in community perspectives. My process is transparent and respectful, built on trust rather than extraction. Because of my progressive worldview, I never judge the communities I work with. I listen, I learn, and I let the people speak for themselves, in all their complexity and truth.

I believe in telling stories from within, not from a distance. For me, Moklani is not just a film. It is a way of honoring a community that welcomed me into their lives with open arms. It is their story, but it is also a piece of my own journey.