Movie name: 3 Bahadur
Release Date: 22 May, 2015
Director: Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy
Music: Sheraz Upal
Review by: Zeeshan Mahmood
3 Bahadur (3 Brave) is the first animated feature film of Pakistan and this exclusiveness has given it a special recognition and made it one of the most talked about films of this year. The good thing is that the film proved itself worthy of it and successfully laid the foundation of children’s cinema in Pakistan.
3 Bahadur is set in a fictional town, Roshan Basti (Town of light), which is controlled by Mangu who acquired evil powers from a mysterious figure Baba Balaam. The things turn different when three 11 year old kids, Amna, Kamil and Saadi, are given special/super powers to fight the evil by Uncle Deenu, the whereabouts of whom remains unclear, after witnessing their bravery and goodness. The kids fight Mangu to free their town of the evil he harbors.
The strongest department of the film is its story which is a combination of reality, fantasy, special/super powers, moral lessons and relatable characters. The film combines some of the realities of our society with the elements of fantasy in a good way and makes it an adventurous journey.
Besides, the film sets a good example of using Urdu in a beautiful and appropriate way, an important element missing in other films, with few learning opportunities for the young viewers. The conversations between the three lead characters of the film, Kamil, Amna and Saadi, are not only entertaining but also seems to be written carefully for the kids and deserve a huge applause.
Another impressive part of the film is its music and background score which is epic and amazing with exception of being little loud at few spots. But, over-all, the background score is of high standards and fits well with the sequences and story of the film. Sheraz Uppal, the music director of the film, never fails to impress with his powerful voice and music composition skills. Both songs of the film are pleasant add-on in the film.
One more worth mentioning thing about the film is its promotion which is done smartly, putting another feather in the cap of Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and her team. The film partnered with some of the leading brands of Pakistan and created special merchandise ranging from biscuits to clothes for the children. A smartphone game app is also made for the film, which is another first in Pakistan’s film industry. The well-executed promotion of the film made 3 Bahadur a hit before its release among children.
There will be a slight disappointment for the people who are expecting to see an animated film of Hollywood level. The animation is of not very high quality (at least not of the level of Madagascar or Rio), but, still, it does not disappoint at all considering the limited resources which would be at the disposal of the creative/technical teams working under limited budget.
Lastly, a pleasant surprise is kept at the end of the film and it hints about the sequel. This reminds of the similar trick used by some of the top franchises of Hollywood linking storyline between their films. Moreover, it also opens the door for 3 Bahadur to become the first franchise of animated films in Pakistan. Bravo!
Verdict:
Overall, 3 Bahadur is a brave, intelligent and sincere effort by Waadi Animations, ARY Films and Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and it will, hopefully, set a trend of making animated films and especially films for the kids in Pakistan. Being first animated feature film for kids, it deserves all the credit and praise ignoring its shortfalls. 3 Bahadur is a gift for the kids and it is expected from the parents to take them to the cinemas and enjoy it with them.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Amazing….