A woman goes back to a place where she once belonged.

There are places in Dubai that are rarely seen on film. They aren’t shiny, glitzy or luxurious. But they are home to thousands of expatriates who grew up there and are now watching it change. Karama is one of them. This short film is a part of an anthology series that pays homage to the places where a part of us will live forever. In cafeterias full of lonely dreams. And rooftops that defined our childhood.

Director’s Vision

Dubai is always portrayed as a luxurious, swanky modern city almost bereft of any soul. Focusing purely on the present and the future, the city is never shown to have any soft corners. The idea behind the film came from presenting another face of the city that is rarely seen on film. There are neighbourhoods that aren’t lux, devoid of skyscrapers but they hold infinite memories of first loves, heartbreaks, friendships, conversations and so much more. One of these neighbourhoods is Karama, where Ekta grew up and as a third culture kid is the only place she relates to being home. The last couple of years have seen these neighbourhoods go through a face lift geared towards modernizing them. This means these middle class suburbs are now slowly changing. Alleys, rooftops, local eateries and shops are slowly disappearing, almost as if erasing the sense of belonging that these places provided. Karama 267 is the first chapter in an anthology series that pays tribute to these neighbourhoods. We hope to capture the nostalgia, longing, and sadness one feels when the place they once called home isn’t quite what it used to be anymore.