‘Hajwala 2’: What to know about the car-racing sequel

Here are 11 things you need to know about the high-octane action crime film, out in cinemas now.

1. The first Hajwala was the highest grossing UAE film of all time

According to the website Box Office Mojo, the film made at least $832,186 (Dh3 million). Director and script writer Hassan Al Jabri attributed the success to the fact that the movie introduced a new genre to the region. “The first film brought out a large audience, and the idea was unique. In the gulf, there had never been a film before that showcased car-related action. It was something new in the region. It created a bit of buzz, so we wanted to keep it going,” said Al Jabri.

2. Filmmakers wanted to change perceptions around the quality of the franchise

Director and scriptwriter Ebrahim Bin Mohammad wanted to create a sequel for two reasons. The first was to respond to the region’s love of the genre, evidenced by the reception toward the first film, and the second was to respond to critics. “There was a lot of criticism toward the quality of the film. So we wanted to bring out audiences who enjoy this kind of film, and we also wanted to change the impression left by our first film, and show that we have the capabilities to make a better film.”

3. The sequel has a new co-director — but he’s no stranger to the franchise

While Hajwala 1 was directed by Bin Mohammad and Ali Bin Matar, the sequel sees Al Jabri take the reins from Bin Matar as the new co-director. Al Jabri was an assistant producer on the first film. “For the sequel, I suggested the idea and wrote the script with Ibrahim. We storyboarded it together,” said Al Jabri. “I believe that Hajwala 2 will be better than Hajwala 1, because of the attention to detail.”

4. The filmmakers wanted to diversify the car-racing techniques

While the first film focused on freestyle techniques, the second one delved more into drifting. And to keep the story fresh, the filmmakers added some laughs, too. “We brought in drifting experts from Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. We also brought in a bit of comedy, which viewers enjoy, so that we could create a mix between action and comedy,” said Bin Mohammad.

5. Even with ambulances on set, they were worried something could go wrong

“The actual hajwala movements, they’re illegal, they’re extremely dangerous. We executed them in the presence of an ambulance and the police, but despite having those safety measures, the technique is still risky, so we worried that God forbid, something would happen. Thankfully, we were successful. This activity, instead of it being in the streets and done illegally, could have special dedicated tracks — there are a lot of young people who like this move, the hajwala move, so hopefully, there could be dedicated tracks where they can participate, in the presence of safety measures,” said Bin Mohammad.

6. There’s a message in the film against dangerous moves such as hajwala

“We showed the problems that the character faces, when he goes down the path of hajwala. We also had a mute character who, at the end of a particular scene, left a message to audiences in his language, which is sign language, that this move is not right, and that he’s going to part ways with his friend who tricked him into getting into the car with him. We hope it’s a moving message to the audience that this technique is dangerous,” said Bin Mohammed.

7. Shooting took place completely in the UAE

Primary filming for Hajwala 2 took place in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. The film took a gruelling 30 days to complete, and the film in its entirety was shot locally. However, the filmmakers hired a seasoned film crew from India, who had previously worked on Bollywood films, which are notorious for their action sequences.

8. The cast was made up of untrained actors, from drifting experts to social media stars

“We cast professional drivers and we trained them when it came to acting over a long period of time. They were great, and very excited,” said Al Jabri. Bin Mohammad said they tried to pick the best of the best during the casting process: “It was important to find someone who had good acting skills, but also had drifting skills. The rest were social media actors, who are already known for uploading their acting online, so we didn’t have to worry about training them too much.”

The cast included Saudi drift champions Yaser Al Nafea (known as King Al Shifa) and Abdallah Al Youssef, Lebanese drifter Abdo Feghali and Emirati drifter Omar Al Hashmi. Plus, the Emirati actors Hussein Al Hosani, Kashoona and Ali Al Marzooqi.

9. Social media opened up a whole new world for the actors — and the filmmakers

“In general, in the Arab world, actors usually come from a theatre background before hitting the big screen. But currently, social media is open to everyone — people don’t have to be stage actors first. They can use social media to show their talent. It might be easier and more affordable for producers, too. That being said, you can’t replace actors and celebrities who are well-known in drama and in cinema,” said Bin Mohammad.

10. The shoot included upwards of 15 cars throughout

When it came to dangerous stunts, they had no less than eight special cars that could handle the heat. But the film had more than 15 cars all together. These included the BMW Z series, as well as the Honda Accord, Land Cruiser, Corvette and more.

11. The filmmakers kept the budget under wraps — but suggested it was higher than the first

“I would expect that the budget for the sequel is higher, because we brought in an expert team from India who are specialised in filming action. We also brought in new lighting, different kinds of cameras — we used to film in 2K, now it’s 6K. Even the quality of the sound. Before, we relied on a mic, now, it’s studio quality. Cars need special sound, and we hope the audience enjoys it when they see the film in cinemas,” said Bin Mohammad.

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Hajwala 2 is out now in the UAE.