High drama with a Scottish flavour – Reviewed By Yvonne Ridley at the Edinburgh Premiere

It’s hard to know where to begin with film producer Tasmina Shaikh’s debut movie without spoiling the storyline for cinema-goers but there’s a lavish dose of Bollywood drama with an equally dramatic Scottish backdrop and it was a magnificent experience of soaking up the Scottish flavour at the Edinburgh Premiere.

Naturally, there’s lots of music, some scintillating dance scenes and a love triangle with challenging family values at the heart of the story, so bring lots of tissues along with the popcorn.

If Shaikh’s name sounds familiar she has acted in a number of popular Urdu drama serials including ‘Des Pardes’ (1999) and ‘Castle: Aik Umeed’ (2001) but in her native Scotland she’s probably better known as a fiery SNP politician who was invariably at the heart of Westminster drama during debates concerning Scotland in the House of Commons.

Her passion for Scotland is reflected in the scenery of Sacch as the storylines unfold in Glasgow and Edinburgh and some of Scotland’s finest dramatic scenic landscapes drawing in lochs, rivers, coastlines and mountains.

The Edinburgh Premiere

Although she is the film’s producer Shaikh also appears on the silver screen next to her daughter Elysee, who makes her own acting and singing debut and does it very well. With such a forceful character as Sheikh behind the scenes, it is not surprising all of the female screen roles portrayed reveal strong, independent characters. And to keep it in the family, Sacch is also directed by her husband, actor Zulfiqar Sheikh.