(Review): Bin Roye; a film where romance leads and emotions follow. A classic ‘Hum’ legacy continual

Movie Name: Bin Roye

Release Date: July 18, 2015 (Eid-ul-Fitr)

Director: Shahzad Kashmiri & Momina Duraid

Review by: Aayan Mirza

HUM is perhaps the only entertainment channel in Pakistan that has over the years built for itself a repute of being good at something in particular. No other channel can play it as at home as HUM does with the genre of ‘Romance.’ They have almost mastered it.

And when the channel takes things a notch higher with its film arm, ‘HUM Films,’ and give you in return a Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed and Armeena Khan starer; Farhat Ishtiaq’s novel based romantic feature film in the shape of Bin Roye, you have definitely got to check it out.

Bin Roye picked it up right from where HUM last left. No, it’s not a Television drama and no it’s not a copy of any other foreign film. It has got all the basic elements of a HUM classic, including the endless emotional strides and the twists and turns within them, it will make you cry, it will put that silly smile on your face, and moments will come when you’ll be at your chair edge, holding it tight; getting yourself won over by some absolutely amazing on screen performances.

It has all that, and, its shortcomings too. It’s definitely not the best that HUM has produced, and it is for sure not the best that Farhat Ishtaiq has ever written.

Before I go into details, let me confess one thing here. I haven’t read the original Farhat Ishtiaq novel. Not yet. Not because of my literature laziness or anything, but I haven’t read it so that in no way possible I am able to make comparisons between the film and the novel. This is because I, for one, believe both are different mediums with both having different limitations and requirements, and thus it will be unfair on my part to compare the two.

But there is enough to write on the film itself without drawing any comparisons with its novel. Lets start with the most vital component of the movie; its story and screenplay.

Based on one of Farhat Ishtiaq’s most read novels (which I, again, haven’t read yet), there was this hype around the film. The story had to be the strongest part of it, more so because it was Farhat herself, writing the film screenplay. But that wasn’t really the case. A love-triangle-tragedy of sorts, or ‘tragedies’ rather, the story was quite predictable, at least the overall layout of it if not the details. This I say after mentioning repeatedly that I haven’t yet read the novel.

It started unfolding at too many fronts, making it difficult to digest all at once. The word ‘digest’ reminds me that the story also has those typical cheesy scenes that are a particular trademark of Urdu digest writers, something that is Farhat’s original identity as an author. At least in the starting of the film. The first half, as mentioned, was bit confusing, but perhaps that’s something you can give to the unfolding process of the movie.

The starting was a little cheesy and the first half a bit too much too quick in every direction, but comes the big ‘Mahira-shattering-her-bangles’ scene and boy oh boy, what a turn the film takes. That’s where you actually start enjoying the film. Actually no, you start enjoying it from the song Ballay Ballay a little earlier than that, but this is where the whole thing gets interesting.

The second half is actually the film’s saving grace, along with the acting in it. It will take you to your emotional highs and low, you may romantically smile, shed a tear or two and actually connect with the characters in there. All credit for that to the actors, all of them, and then the writer and directors for extracting that out of them.

Mahira was actually the film’s lead star, and by God she does justice to the space provided. She has come a long way from her Bol days, and you will only leave the hall becoming an ever bigger fan of her. Humayun’s dapper appearance looked quite hot on screen, and his acting was an equal treat. He looked absolutely perfect in his role, and created a great chemistry with both his female leads. Armeena was a great fit for her mellow, yet an all-quality American character. She looked ravishing on screen, particularly in that red maxi dress of hers. Her acting, too, was praiseworthy for whatever space she had.

One really wishes after watching the film that Humayun and Armeena had bigger screen time. Other actors too did well, Javed Sheikh was as good as ever, and Zeba Bakhtiar looked beautiful. Junaid Khan in his cameo was also fulfilling but the real cameo treat was Adeel Hussain. What a dance performance, thoroughly enjoyable.

Music of the film stood out in the entire show. Really catchy tracks and almost everything for everyone. My personal favourite being the O Yara, Ballay Ballay and Chan Chriya, in that specific order. Hats off to all the singers and musicians involved for providing a quality film music.

Direction of the film had just too many shades, the film at times started giving the look of a TV serial all of a sudden, and in the next scene it would amaze you with a grand aura that it would set for the scene. One can blame the editing department or the fact that the directorial department changed hands multiple times, but it nevertheless could be felt. The song picturisation however was a task excellently performed, a case in particular being Ballay Ballay and O Yara.

Two thumbs up also for the film’s ‘Director of Photography (DOP),’ and the stylists involved. Great job guys. The actors looked in their characters and the cinematography was beautiful, breathtaking at points.