Ek Thi Marium ( ) is a 2016 Pakistani biographical television film based on the life of Pakistani female fighter pilot Marium Mukhtiar. Produced by Nina Kashif, it is directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat and written by Umera Ahmad. It features Sanam Baloch in the title role of Marium Mukhtiar, while Hina Khawaja Bayat and Behroze Sabzwari the played roles of Marium's parents. It was premiered on Defence Day 2016 on Urdu 1. Upon release, the film as well as Baloch's performance received critical acclaim. On 21 October 2016, the film was released in Cinepax nationwide.
Plot
Colonel Mukhtiar Ahmed Sheikh lives in Malir Cantonment, Karachi, together with his wife Rehana Mukhtiar and children Marium Mukhtiar, Marvi Mukhtiar, and Shahrukh Mukhtiar . With an excellent academic career and aim of joining the Pakistan Air Force as a fighter pilot from childhood, Marium enters into the engineering field against her will to fulfill her parents' dream. She continuously found means to equip herself with planes and after spending a year at university she asked her parents' permission to join the Pakistan Air Force. Reluctant of her decision, Marium's father tries to make her understand that a cadet's life is tough, especially for girls, but after seeing her determination, he agrees. Marium begins to prepare herself for the PAF written test and becomes successful both in the test and interview but awaits a final call. Upon returning from university she finds out that the results have been announced, when she encounters her neighbor, who informed her that his son has been selected. She runs to find out her results, and when she could not find her admission letter she becomes disappointed, only to be surprised by her family that she has been selected, and the whole family celebrates.
Marium arrives at PAF Risalpur Academy for training and befriends her roommate, Mahrukh. She, along with other new cadets, is often pranked by seniors as per usual PAF traditions. However, she managed herself through tough physical training and the five o'clock life of cadets. During training she often decides to quit but is encouraged by her mother, who tells her that she is now a "daughter of soil". During her first visit home at her sister's marriage she finds out that her senior's plane has crashed during an operation and prepares herself for any future hazard. After hectic training, tests and flying missions she passed with distinction and becomes a flying officer. She then successfully passed her first solo flight mission, and as per PAF tradition is welcomed by co-cadets throwing buckets of water on her. While on vacation at home, Rehana informed Marium that her senior, Flight Engineer Qaiser has sent a proposal for her. She asks Marium to consider this proposal. Reluctant at first, she agrees to meet Qaiser and ends up getting engaged. After returning to their bases, Marium at PAF Base M.M. Alam in Mianwali, while Qaiser at PAF Faisal Base in Karachi, both frequently talk and plan for their future.
Back at the base, on her first routine operational training mission, Marium boards an FT-7PG aircraft along with Squadron Leader Saqib Abbasi but during flight their plane suffers a mechanical failure. Unable to overcome the situation, both pilots eject a moment before their plane hits the ground near Kundian in Mianwali District. Abbasi suffers minor injuries while Mukhtiar succumbs to her injuries in a military hospital. At the age of 23, Marium becomes the first female fighter pilot to die in the line of duty. Marium's mother receives her casualty notification from five officers along with her cap and Pakistan's flag. Marium receives a guard of honour and a 19-gun salute and was later awarded the Tamgha-e-Basalat by the Government of Pakistan, received by her parents.
Cast
The following are the only billed cast. Sanam Baloch as Marium Mukhtiar, first Pakistani female fighter pilot to die in the line of duty Hina Khawaja Bayat as Rehana Mukhtiar, Marium's mother Behroze Sabzwari as Colonel Mukhtiar Ahmed Sheikh, Marium's father and retired officer Shermeen Ali as Marvi Mukhtiar, doctor and Marium's older sister Hadi bin Arshad as Shahrukh Mukhtiar, Marium's younger brother Agha Mustafa Hassan as Flight Engineer Qaiser, Marium's fiancé Sajida Syed as Marium's grandmother Alizey Mehak as Mahrukh, Marium's roommate and friend
