Hot Water Bottle Films — We Bring Ideas to Life

About Us

Stories that stick.

Hot Water Bottle Films is a Karachi-based production company led by husband-and-wife creative duo Umer Adil and Beenish Umer. For over a decade, we have brought ideas to life across feature films, documentaries, TVCs, children's content, music videos, and corporate films.

We are storytellers first. Whether we're crafting a Pakistan-China romantic drama that lands on Netflix, producing an Urdu puppet show that teaches a new generation to love their language, or helping a hospital move hearts during Ramzan — we bring the same rigour, warmth, and creative vision to every project.

Based in Karachi, we are open to work anywhere in the world.

20+

Years in Production

Seasons of Pakkay Dost

Netflix Feature Film

∞

Stories Left to Tell

Selected Work

Projects we're proud of.

From children's puppet shows that capture a generation's imagination, to feature films screened across four countries — here's a glimpse of what we've made.

Director's Showreel · Vimeo

Showreel — Umer Adil

A showcase of Umer Adil's directorial work across feature films, documentaries, children's content, and commercials.

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Children's Series · Puppet Show · Now in Season 3

Pakkay Dost

Pakistan's answer to Sesame Street. A groundbreaking Urdu-language puppet show conceived by Bilal Maqsood (Strings), directed by Umer Adil — making Urdu cool again for a new generation. Featured in Dawn, Arab News, and CBC Canada.

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Feature Film · Cinema & Netflix

Chalay Thay Saath

A Pakistan-China romantic drama screened in Romania, Hong Kong, China, Sri Lanka, and USA. Available worldwide on Netflix.

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TV Commercial · Non-Profit

Indus Hospital — Ramzan TVC

An emotionally resonant fundraising campaign for one of Pakistan's leading charitable hospitals, designed to move audiences to donate during Ramzan.

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TV Commercial · Brand

Gluco Teddy TVC

A warm and playful television commercial for Gluco Teddy biscuits, crafted to connect with children and parents alike.

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Animated Content · Brand Collaboration

Gluco × Bilal Maqsood — Nursery Rhymes

Animated Urdu nursery rhymes created in collaboration with Bilal Maqsood for Gluco — blending music, animation, and brand storytelling.

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Documentary · Development Sector

AKES — Impact Films

A series of powerful documentary films for the Aga Khan Education Service Pakistan, bringing the story of remote schools and transformative education to life.

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Short Film · Sight Savers · Seeprime

Noor

A short film born from a documentary brief for Sight Savers. Shot during Covid lockdown with remote planning, it reached a global audience and earned international partners.

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Brand Film · KFC Pakistan

KFC — Independence Day

An Independence Day film for KFC Pakistan — blending national pride with brand storytelling.

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Music Video · Special Olympics Pakistan

Strings — Tum Aasmaan Ho · Special Olympics Pakistan Anthem

The official anthem for Special Olympics Pakistan, performed by Strings. A film about potential, inclusion, and the power of sport.

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Short Film · Habib University

Yohsin — Habib University

What began as a brief for filming testimonials became a fully story-driven film — from concept to execution for Habib University.

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What We Do

Full-spectrum production.

From the first idea to the final frame, we handle it all — and we bring a filmmaker's sensibility to every format.

Children's Content

Puppet shows, animated nursery rhymes, educational series. We know how to speak to young audiences in ways that stick.

TV Commercials

Thirty seconds or three minutes — we craft brand stories that move audiences and drive results.

Feature Films & Drama

Cinema-grade production with the storytelling depth that keeps audiences in their seats.

Documentaries

Real stories, told with rigour and heart — for development organisations, brands, and broadcast.

Animation

From simple 2D to rich animated worlds — we bring characters and concepts to life visually.

Music Videos

Visual storytelling in service of sound — conceptual, cinematic, and always memorable.

Corporate & Development

Impact films, institutional communications, and fundraising content for NGOs and international organisations.

Direction & Production

End-to-end — from creative concept and scripting through to shoot, post-production, and delivery.

What People Say

Trusted by the best.

A true find and a brilliant group of people. What makes them stand out is the ability to think beyond the brief — they don't just execute, they elevate.

Atiya Zaidi

Executive Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather Pakistan

I have had the pleasure of working with Hot Water Bottle Films in various capacities during the last 10 years. Their ability to think creatively while delivering on the brief is what keeps me coming back.

Industry Collaborator

Long-term client, 10+ years

Umer was the obvious choice for directing Pakkay Dost. He and Beenish don't just direct — they bring a parent's instinct and a filmmaker's precision to every scene.

Bilal Maqsood

Creator, Pakkay Dost · Co-founder, Strings

Thank you for your creative vision and bringing our impact to life in a way that truly captures what we do. A labour of love, and it shows in every frame.

Alizay Jaffer

AKES Pakistan

The Team

The people behind the lens.

Umer Adil

Director · CEO

A Pakistani filmmaker, director, and producer with over two decades of experience across narrative cinema, documentary filmmaking, and original children's content. His debut feature Chalay Thay Saath (2017) was released globally on Netflix. His award-winning short film Noor was recognised at the Cannes World Film Festival. Co-creator of Pakkay Dost with Bilal Maqsood — building worlds that are playful, purposeful, and deeply rooted in culture.

Beenish Umer

Producer · Production Designer

Creative force behind the visual world of Hot Water Bottle Films. Art director on Pakkay Dost and producer on Chalay Thay Saath — bringing aesthetic rigour and warmth to every production.

We Bring
Ideas
to Life.

Stories that stick.