Baap: AR Rahman to collaborate with the UAE's first woman filmmaker, Nayla Al Khaja; details inside

AR Rahman, who's busy with Mani Ratnam's adaptation of Ponniyin Selvan, will team up with the first woman filmmaker in the United Arab Emirates, Nayla Al Khaja, on her upcoming feature project, Baap.

In a press release, the double Oscar-winning composer said he was delighted to be working with Nayla.

Referring to her as a passionate, promising director, and an important creative voice within the Gulf region, Rahman added, "The script is enigmatic, thought-provoking and appears to be both visually and emotionally engaging for the universal audience. I'm looking forward to the journey!"

Written by Al Khaja and Masoud Amralla Al Ali, Baap follows the story of Wahida, who is unable to make sense of her twin sister's mysterious death and is plagued by the past.

A report published by Variety reads, "Wahida discovers hidden cassette tapes and her relentless pursuit of the truth begins to untangle unresolved grief, taking her deep into the mountains; to delve into the complexities of the human soul."

The press statement, further, adds that Baap would go on floors by March 2023, in the northern Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, where the film's backdrop is set.

Al Khaja, known for her shorts, including Malal and The Road to Fulfilment, said, "Baap is a soulful script and an untold story that I am eager to tell. With AR Rahman on board, we will live a very immersive journey that is authentic, haunting and real."

Also, Al Khaja is making her feature debut with Three, which is scheduled to go into production later this year. AR Rahman signed on the dotted line, after he set up his Firdaus Studio in Dubai. It is reported that the orchestra of Firdaus Studio has 50 women musicians from 23 Arab countries.