For my first watch of this year’s London Film Festival, Mogul Mowgli was far from disappointing. The collaboration between Bassam Tariq and Riz Ahmed follows a British-Pakistani rapper Zed, played by Ahmed, on the cusp of his big break as he is struck down by an autoimmune illness. It explores bi-culturality, heritage and difference in opportunity and does all this with its heart on its sleeve. Its story is simple, its visuals are striking and Ahmed’s performance is unmatched.
With a scene that, to me, was reminiscent of The Social Network’s opening, we learn that Zed has not visited his London-based family in two years. “For someone who raps so much about home, when was the last time you spent time with your family?”, his girlfriend Vaseem (Anjana Vasan) asks after his lively performance in New York. These recurring flashbacks of Zed’s energetic sets make the news of his condition so much more devastating, especially as his doctor confirms it is irreversible and hereditary.
Zed’s voice is how he is defined by others, his way of taking up space in the public eye. He seemingly puts all of his passion into his art, to the point where he has pushed almost everyone close to him away. Through his songs he reiterates the importance of his heritage, yet through some of the film’s more surrealist moments it is strongly implied that he is at war with his identity. When visiting his family home, he discovers one of his old rap cassettes, taped over one of his dad’s songs from back home. His parents speak to him in Pakistani, to which he responds in English. Bi-culturality is portrayed as an exhaustive performance depending on Zed’s audience – however he presents himself is critiqued, which allows us to empathise deeply with his internal conflict. Zed’s emotional journey is as prominent as his physical deterioration.
Throughout the film there are glimpses of dreamlike flashbacks – floating dust, bodies huddled together accompanied by the rickety sounds of a train carriage in motion. The weight of these moments is heavy, and offers great perspective regarding what Zed’s father Bashir (Alyy Khan) has gone through to allow Zed to follow his passion, to have opportunities that to his dad would have seemed impossible. It is as harrowing as it is touching, and the progression of Zed and Bashir’s relationship makes for a sincere experience.
Riz Ahmed’s performance is incredible, and the passion that himself and Tariq have for the film shines through. As a Londoner, I find stories such as this very enticing, and I do believe it adds to the discussion surrounding celebrating your cultural identity, even if it means staring your past in the face. It is equally thought-provoking and numbing – an emotional ride from start to finish. Mogul Mowgli is a true standout from this year’s festival lineup, and I encourage all that can see it upon release to experience it for yourself.
