Box Office: Teefa still flying high, crosses the 30 crore mark on Eid!

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August 22, 2018

Teefa In Trouble is a success like no other. The film released on July 20 and first recorded the biggest day one ever for any Pakistani film despite being a non-holiday release and then it recorded the biggest non-holiday first week ever for any Pakistani film.

Maintaining the momentum the film scored big numbers in week two however the real surprise came in week three where the film registered the biggest week three ever for any film to have released in Pakistan! Yes, the film beat the likes of biggies like Punjab Nahi Jaungi, Sultan, and Sanju! And not just in week three but the film upheld its superiority and had a record week four number.

Week five has opened on a positive note for the film and as you read this on Eid-ul-Azha (Wednesday) the film has crossed the 30 crore mark at the box office which makes it the third highest-grossing Pakistani film only behind Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani. If you add foreign films to the mix, then Teefa is the fifth highest grosser ever!

Here is the weekly break down:

(Week One): 11.31cr

(Week Two): 7.48cr

(Week Three): 5.77cr

(Week Four): 4.17cr

(Week Five- 5 days): 1.19cr

Grand Total.. 29.92cr

Lets see how the film fares on Eid where it has to face major opposition from three Lollywood biggies ‘Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2’, ‘Load Wedding’ and ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’. But given the showtimes ‘Teefa In Trouble’ has secured and the excellent trending, it would not be a surprise if the film does exceedingly well and emerges as the highest-grossing Pakistani film ever! Stay tuned.

We cannot vouch for the authenticity of these box office numbers given by independent box office tracking site Box Office Detail. However, until we have some official box-office tracking system in Pakistan this is all we have got. The numbers are also revised at times and hence you may observe fluctuations.

Box Office: ‘Teefa In Trouble’ maintains the momentum and scores big in week two!

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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August 3, 2018

Teefa In Trouble has been re-writing box office rules ever since the film released two weeks back. The film, which released on July 20, first recorded the biggest day one ever for any film despite being a non-holiday release. Then it recorded the biggest non-holiday first week for any Pakistani film. Maintaining the momentum the film scored big numbers in week two and shows no signs of stopping at the box office.

Here are the numbers:

Moreover, the film has done decently on the international front and has collected about 8.22 crores which takes the total worldwide gross number to 27 crores!

With a couple of new releases this Friday and the hangover of Mission Impossible let’s see how much the film is able to add to its total tally in the coming days. But one thing has been proved that good content with right marketing will be well received whether its an Eid release or not, something that our Eid obsessed industry needed to understand.

We congratulate the makers on the success and hope the film holds well in the coming days.

All numbers used in this article have been taken from independent box office tracking site Box Office Detail and we cannot vouch for the authenticity of these box office numbers. However, until we have some official box-office tracking system in Pakistan this is all we have got. The numbers are also revised at times and hence you may observe fluctuations.

Exclusive: Meet the cast of ‘Karachi Se Lahore 3’

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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August 3, 2018

‘Karachi Se Lahore’ has been one of the most successful comedy franchises to have come out of Pakistan in recent times. The first part, which was a surprise hit with the audiences and critics alike gave the industry the talent that is ‘Yasir Hussain’! The second part took things a few notches higher as it presented television sensation Saba Qamar in a completely different avatar. Although the second part was met with mixed reviews, the film did well the box office and people were waiting for the next film already. And now the man behind the series Wajahat Rauf just announced the third installment titled ‘Karachi Se Lahore 3’

Wajahat took to social media to announce the film which like its prequels will be written by ace comedian Yasir Hussain and will be directed by Wajahat himself. As for the distributor, the film has moved back from ARY Films ( Distributors for the second installment) to IMGC who were the distributors for the original film. The film is getting right into production with an Eid-ul-Fitr 2019 release date.

As for the cast well the makers haven’t officially announced it but reliable sources have revealed that the film will see an ensemble cast which includes Yasir Hussain, Kubra Khan, Asad Siddiqui, Zara Noor Abbas, Shehzad Sheikh and Ayesha Omar in leading roles and as for the supporting cast Aashir Wajahat will be seen reprising his role with more names to be added soon. But don’t get your hopes high as we are not sure yet as to who’ll be starring opposite who in the film.

We called up Wajahat Rauf for a confirmation but he informed us that everything will be made public in due time and refused to comment. Heres wishing the makers all the best with the film and we will be keeping an eye out for the official announcement, but you heard it first on Galaxy Lollywood.

Box Office: ‘Teefa In Trouble’ registers the biggest non-holiday first week

By

Galaxy Lollywood

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July 27, 2018

He came, he saw and, he conquered!

The statement holds true for Ali Zafar whose debut Pakistani film ‘Teefa In Trouble’ released last Friday and has set the box office on fire by registering the biggest non-holiday week one for a Pakistani film. The other blockbusters, i.e. JPNA and PNJ, released on the festival of Eid-al-Azha.

The Ali Zafar-Maya Ali starrer opened to the record-breaking 2.3 crore on Friday, making a history for Pakistani film opening to such a huge response on non-holiday. The film grew impressively on Saturday and Sunday, bringing its opening weekend gross to 7.21 crore. The film held its position strongly on weekdays as well. Despite General Elections falling on Wednesday, it added 4.12 crore on five weekdays, taking its cume to glorious 11.33 crore.

Here is the breakdown of the record-making week-one collections of ‘Teefa in Trouble’:

The success of the film shows that good content with right marketing will be well received whether its an Eid release or not, something that our Eid obsessed industry needed to understand. Ali Zafar had said that he wanted to set a precedent with releasing his film on a non-holiday weekend and looks like he has just done what he wanted to.

We congratulate the makers on the success and hope the film keeps a good hold on second week as well.

All numbers used in this article have been taken from independent box office tracking site Box Office Detail and we cannot vouch for the authenticity of these box office numbers. However, until we have some official box-office tracking system in Pakistan this is all we have got. The numbers are also revised at times and hence you may observe fluctuations.

Teefa In Trouble (Review): A visually resplendent entertainer

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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Movie Name: Teefa In Trouble

Release Date: July 20, 2018

Director: Ahsan Rahim

Review by: Momin Ali Munshi

Tu nie chodzi o cel podróży, ale o podróż

‘It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey’- this quote uttered by Maya Ali’s character Anya in the film, could very well suffice as a quick one-line review for the movie where from the very beginning you know how the film will end, yet you enjoy seeing the journey unfold on the silver screen which quite honestly is nothing short of a magnificent cinematic experience. It takes you from the choked streets of Old Lahore to the picturesque locations of Poland, you meet some genuinely hilarious characters, get to see some splendid shots accompanied by a consistent background score and songs that will stay with you for a long time – goes without saying that this journey is one you want to embark on.

The film opens in the streets of Old Lahore and we are introduced to our main protagonist Teefa (Ali Zafar) who in a true filmy style makes his entry which is then followed by one of the most well-shot chase sequences to have come out of Pakistani cinema. We learn our Lahori hero is a street-smart small-time goon and henchman to Butt Sahab( Mehmood Aslam). Butt Sahab has a kooky son Billu Butt (Marhoom Ahmad Bilal) who he wants to see married to the headstrong Anya (Maya Ali)- daughter of his once best pal Bashira aka Bonzo( Javed Sheikh) who is settled in Poland. When the proposal gets turned down, a plan is hatched whereby Teefa will abduct Anya from Poland and bring her to Lahore and with that begins the journey for Teefa.

Now while the plot is basic and rather underwhelming, it is the treatment of this plot which has been garnished with some of the best action sequences we have seen in a local film, scenes and dialogues which are genuinely funny, and an effort on part of the makers to make sure that they provide wholesome entertainment, which makes up for the plain premise. There is never a dull moment in the film where every scene is infused with comedy which is extremely relatable and elicits laughter. Furthermore, the action sequences as mentioned earlier are applaud-worthy and make you sit up and take notice of the hard work that went in to shoot them.

Ever since our film industry has revived lots of films have come about but there has always been this constant complaint of them not being filmy enough and feeling drama like, something which has unfortunately been true for most of them. But Ahsan Rahim, the magician behind the camera along with his talented team of Art Directors and Cinematographers shatters this from the very first opening scene itself making it very clear that the film is a magnum opus, a cinematic experience where you will see a huge canvas with big filmy frames capturing Lahore and Poland in all the glory. The film as the title of the review says has resplendent visuals which definitely make Ahsan Rahim a director to look out for.

But not all is hunky dory as by the time the second half begins the film loses its pace and also becomes slightly repetitive where the viewers are genuinely not up for another fight sequence or another climax ( the film has many). Moreover, some scenes could easily have been chopped or reserved for a directors cut version on DVD, like for instance the one where good angel bad angel trope is on display as we have five Ali Zafar’s fighting each other. Also, some may argue that most of the comedy was refined stage humor, which I agree it was, but given the characters, it made perfect sense for them to talk the way they did and thus it all gelled in perfectly. Although I still think some viewers may find this overdose somewhat off-putting.

Ali Zafar shines bright as Teefa as he fully embraces the role which is quite the opposite of how he is off-camera. From his body language, accent, the way he delivers the cheeky one-liners, the little nuances, all make for a brilliant performance which may seem over the top at times but that’s what the point was! Maya Ali also leaves a mark with her debut performance and shows that she has arrived. She is believable in her role of the stubborn Polish-born Anya and looks beautiful on-screen and definitely has that elusive screen presence despite the fact that the make-up artist didn’t really do that great of a job with her makeup.

Mehmood Aslam and Asma Abbas both light up the screen with their presence and how we wish there was more of Asma jee who though performs the stock character of a Punjabi mom, but she is really good. Marhoom Ahmad Bilal makes the character Billu Butt his own and is really likable. Nayyar Ejaz has a brief role yet he impresses as always. Faisal Qureshi who I have always disliked in the Ufone adds was actually good in the film and does full justice to the side-kick friend character. Javed Sheikh doing what he does in every film is getting kind of boring now- though yes he has a very strong presence. Seemi Raheel jee should do more films, loved her brief role. Mah-e-Nur Haider looked beautiful and should take on meatier roles now. Formel model Sofia Khan is another great addition to the acting fraternity.

Coming to the music of the film, you know it has to be perfection when you have one of the most talented musicians of the country composing the soundtrack for his ambitious maiden production. The four main tracks are all beautifully composed and shot although I wish I could say the same for their placement. ‘Item Number’ just came out of nowhere and even the other songs seemed a bit out of context. I mean I love the songs and the lyrics hit you hard, but you don’t really buy the characters feeling those words. Nonetheless, the songs are a huge plus! Add to that the consistently brilliant background score by Shani Arshad and that signature Teefa music, and you have to agree this is one of the strongest music ever for a local film.

Verdict: A technically sound and beautifully shot film with all the right ingredients for an entertaining watch.

Box Office: ‘Teefa In Trouble’ is on fire, records biggest opening for a Pakistani film!

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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July 21, 2018

He came, he saw and, he conquered!

The statement holds true for Ali Zafar whose debut Pakistani film ‘Teefa In Trouble’ released yesterday and set the box office on fire by recording a whopping 2.3 crore on the very first day itself.

The Ali Zafar-Maya Ali starrer has left behind all other Pakistani releases as the first day numbers are the highest ever for any Pakistani film. Furthermore, what is interesting is that the film was a non-holiday release whereas other Pakistani biggies like Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani were holiday releases.

The success of the film shows that good content with right marketing will be well received whether its an Eid release or not, something that our Eid obsessed industry needed to understand. Ali Zafar had said that he wanted to set a precedent with releasing his film on a non-holiday weekend and looks like he has just done what he wanted to.

We congratulate the makers on the success and hope the film does even better in the coming days.

All numbers used in this article have been taken from independent box office tracking site Box Office Detail and we cannot vouch for the authenticity of these box office numbers. However, until we have some official box-office tracking system in Pakistan this is all we have got. The numbers are also revised at times and hence you may observe fluctuations.

Replacing Mahira Khan and talking #BoycottTeefaInTrouble: A candid chat with Ali Zafar and Maya Ali

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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July 18, 2018

That we met up with Ali Zafar and Maya Ali last week is no surprise. You just need to open up Instagram and you will see the two stars grooving to the dance number ‘Item Number’ in a video we shot which is all over social media. Before the video was shot, Galaxy Lollywood’s Momin Ali Munshi sat down with the two leading stars of upcoming film ‘Teefa In Trouble’ to talk about the film, future plans and so much more. Here are excerpts from a freely flowing candid conversation where no topic was off limits.

Maya, it’s so good to see you back in action. We have definitely missed seeing you on screen and we heard Ali stopped you from taking on any new work these past few months, is that true?

Maya Ali: (laughs) Ali kab kiya aap nay yeh? Honestly, he said no such thing and did not stop me from doing anything, it is just that I wanted to completely focus on Teefa. Even when I was doing television, my focus was on quality, not quantity.

But there’s been quite a huge gap between your last project and Teefa.

Maya: When there is quality work happening it’s bound to take time. I wanted to give this film and my character one hundred percent and wanted people to wait for my next project and have this excitement kay kab ayi gi Maya Ali kay samnay.

And how could we end our coverage without some naach gaana specially since the film itself features a peppy dance number #ItemNumber which is currently trending all over Pakistan! So presenting Ali Zafar and Maya Ali dancing like there is not tomorrow in this exclusive video. Enjoy 🙂 #AliZafar #MayaAli #TeefaInTrouble #TnT @ali_zafar @official_mayaali

A post shared by Galaxy Lollywood (@galaxylollywood) on Jul 9, 2018 at 9:14am PDT

Okay so Ali, when Teefa’s teaser came out there was this intrigue factor surrounding the film, the setting, the characters but when the trailer came out it was like you revealed the complete plot. Was that a conscious decision?

Ali Zafar: It was a call on the directors part as Ahsan Rahim cut the trailer. See, it is a very tricky situation as to how much you have to reveal. I feel the story is the most important part because that is what engages the viewer for the first time who then decides whether he wants to see the story unfold on the screen or not. We’ve given some of it but not all of it as there are a lot of surprises, twists, and turns in store for you.

With its wide release world over, the focus for Teefa seems more on the International market, as compared to the domestic market. Is that so?

Ali: Well if that was the case I wouldn’t be sitting here with you right now.

But the focus is more on that side no? What with all the London premiere, Dubai promotions and all?

Maya: There is a premiere in London, okay he’s not invited me for that. Kis kay saath kar rahay hain wahan pay?

Ali: Okay so it was a very conscious effort. While the film should have a place of its own in Pakistan and trust me the country is my first priority, this has been the case since the beginning of my journey, but I feel internationally whatever image or perception there is of Pakistan is not what we would like it to be and if through this film we can somehow change that perception, would be great. We wanted to make and take a film of International caliber, from Pakistan, which showcases our indigenous culture, our humor, music, style of film-making so people out there can see it because right now Pakistani Cinema doesn’t really have an image out there and trust me this was a huge challenge. But I have been lucky that there are some sixteen seventeen countries where this is the first Pakistani film that will be screened ever. Its releasing in 25 countries- widest release ever, something I also wanted to achieve.

Bin Roye did wonderfully on the international front and it made more money with its International release then it did here in Pakistan. Do you think Teefa has the potential to do that? Also, what factors do you think are important for a film to well on the International market, and given your experience with Bollywood you would probably have a better know how of that as compared to other Pakistani film-makers.

Ali: I think the most important thing for any film, any story is, the connection to its roots-where it comes from. We are Pakistanis and we have a certain ethos so if we stay true that, and that strikes with people internationally, you have a winner.

Dear world. Here we come. The widest ever release for a Pakistani film! @teefaintrouble #20july #yrf @lightingaleproductions

A post shared by Ali Zafar (@ali_zafar) on Jul 15, 2018 at 7:56am PDT

Is the film releasing in India?

Ali: Inshallah, hopefully, that’s on the cards. That is going to be another big thing for the film to happen, let’s see what happens.

Maya you have done a lot of television and your image is generally of the bechari, roti hui seedhi-saadhi larki, and now this shift to your character in Teefa where she has this western brought up and lives in Poland. How difficult was it for you to play this role and also do you think your television fanbase will digest this new Maya in a completely different and rather bold avatar where you’re showing skin and dancing in a ‘Main Item Number Nahi’ dance number?

Ali: But if you look at the song, there is no skin?

If you ask me I love the look but I’m asking on behalf of the thousands of loyal Instagram fans who seemed pretty upset.

Maya: Whatever I did on television with the roti-dhoti larki was a character and I was playing that character, and being an actor you should do all kinds of work. Film is larger than life and aap ko thora sa khul kay samnay ana hota hay and you get the margin to perform. Skin show walay comments toh woh dramas par bhi aatay hain, we wear a sleeveless top and people comment rather start passing judgments on one’s character. So my focus is on work and I try and play the character I have been given, and this all you see is Anya, not Maya.

Maya we’ve seen you dance at weddings and you’re a phenomenal dancer. How different was it dancing for the camera, with proper choreography or was it a piece of cake for you, at least that’s what we thought?

Maya: I thought so too! That since I am a great dancer it will all be very easy for me but when I performed for the camera I realized dancing at weddings is very easy but doing it for a film is something very technical, given all the movements and all. I feel we should have dance classes and need to focus on this too in addition to acting, it is very important if you are doing a film.

Here with the cast of #TeefaInTrouble! Stay tuned for some really fun stuff coming your way only on Galaxy Lollywood. P.S This is not for One Take. #AliZafar #MayaAli #MominAliMunshi #TnT

A post shared by Galaxy Lollywood (@galaxylollywood) on Jul 9, 2018 at 5:49am PDT

Ali, I am sure you are aware of the entire twitter war happening where on one side you have your fans defending you but on the other side people are calling for a boycott of the film given the Meesha Shafi episode. You’re aware of this right?

Ali: I block all sorts of negativity from my life and I only focus on the positive.

The reason I bring this up is because, initially it was just fans and lots of bots engaging in the conversation online but now we have prominent faces, journalists calling out for a ban on the film and then the entire Patari incident, what would be your reply or comment on the situation.

Ali: Very simple, let’s wait and see.

First the four Eid releases and then Jackpot, there has been a string of five mediocre/bad films and the momentum has been broken and people aren’t that keen on watching Pakistani films and that support Pakistani cinema card isn’t working anymore. Do you think this will affect your film?

Ali: Every time the public is disappointed with a film it does create a negative effect. But I feel that people are very intelligent and they can differentiate between good and bad content. We are pretty confident about our product, and I hope and pray it can change the perception because I agree with you about the support cinema card, which is why I don’t emotionally blackmail people asking them to support cinema, we are saying go to get entertained, to be blown away with the way its been shot, the action sequences, the comedy, the songs. Just go to get entertained with your family and friends.

Ali, you were working on a film titled ‘Deosai’ and were pretty excited about it, is it happening?

Yes, I was working on the film. We actually went to the mountain tops to see how practical it was to shoot that film, and it required a lot of paraphernalia to shoot that film. Then before we could get to it, ‘Teefa’ happened and once this happened now I feel the topic of ‘Deosai’ which was relevant for that period, is not so relevant now. I’ll reconsider, whether I want to do that film or not.

So whats next for you after Teefa?

Ali: I can only tell that after I have gone on vacation after the release of Teefa.

Any Indian project maybe?

Ali: The world’s becoming smaller and smaller, with possibilities growing larger and larger. So when you say any possibility I have always said immense!

So, Maya, you’re doing ‘Paray Hut Love’ right after Teefa when does the shooting start and when does it release? Also, any drama serial you’re planning on doing?

Maya: Shooting starts September and releases sometime next year and no drama serial as of now.

Ali: Whats the name ‘Paray Hut Love’?

Don’t you like it? It’s an interesting name.

Ali: I am actually just making the connection, I had read ‘Paray Hut Love’ and I had read you had signed Asim’s next now I’m putting them together.

And she replaced Mahira Khan as the leading lady.

Maya: (laughs) I am not replacing anyone.

Ali: You’ve replaced Mahira?

In the film, in the film!

Ali: You can put that question as a shocker for me

Maya: Question mark and full stop Momin, you know what I am talking about right. I haven’t replaced anyone, I was offered the film, I read the script, liked it, I didn’t ask what was happening before me and that’s pretty much it.

Ali: Maya Ali is going to be the biggest star this year…

After Teefa?

Ali: Even right now.

Such a sarcastic tone you have.

Ali: The fact has to be now acknowledged.

Okay, I don’t really follow but nonetheless, let’s end our conversation with the cliched question, why should people go see the film?

Maya: It is a proper family entertainer

Ali: It’s a full-on masala entertainer but with the right amount of masala, not the kind jis kay baad aap ka peth kharab ho jaye, rather agar kisi ka pet kharab hay woh theek ho jaye ga.

Jackpot (Review): An awami khichdi

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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Movie Name: Jackpot

Release Date: July 6, 2018

Director: Shoaib Khan

Review by: Momin Ali Munshi

After a string of disappointing films that came out on Eid, Jackpot seemed like the perfect follow-up. The breezy comedy had an interesting ensemble cast, picturesque locations, technically sound and visually appealing shots and it definitely seemed like the film which would help us get over the Eid fiasco, at least that’s what the trailer and promos led us to believe, although yes they were a bit over the top. So does the film deliver what the trailer promised? The answer is both yes and no.

The plot of the film centers around a 100 crore winning lottery ticket and a bunch of characters who all want to get their hands on the ticket and the grand prize. Among them are hunky waiter (Noor Hassan), ambitious receptionist (Sanam Chaudhry), naive dhoban (Sana Fakhar) along with a good for nothing husband (Adnan Shah Tipu), criminal Jojo ( Javed Sheikh) and a handful of other amusing characters we meet on this roller-coaster ride which takes you from the streets of Old Lahore to Phuket and more.

Jackpot like its predecessors falls short on its promise, albeit not fully, as it does deliver a few genuinely funny moments here and there but since they are limited it doesn’t really help the film which was supposed to be an outright laugh riot. Also, the use of comedians from Lahore’s commercial theatre circuit might have seemed like a great idea to the producers as the comedians did elicit laughter in a few sequences but in totality their brand of slapstick comedy which might have worked with the theatre-going class, was extremely off-putting and did not gel with the otherwise high scale production and feel of the film.

Furthermore, Babar Kashmiri’s writing reeked of old school Lollywood humor which again was distasteful, and because of it, even veteran actors like Javed Sheikh and Ismail Tara came across as extremely repulsive. Also, I have no idea why Adnan Shah Tipu was constantly shouting whenever he would open his mouth. To see such a wonderful actor make a fool out of himself was disheartening, or maybe that’s how the writer envisioned his character. Quite honestly if one was to completely remove four to five characters, and mold the others slightly, the film would have been something else.

Noor Hassan, Sanam Chaudhry, and Sana Fakhar were the three redeeming forces in a film which was otherwise full of casting blunders. Let me start with diva Sana who makes a full-fledged Lollywood-y comeback of sorts to the silver screen after doing a few supporting roles and item numbers and boy is she back with a bang. She nails the role with her goofy expressions on one side and brings out the sultry siren on the other hand with these little dance sequences she has in the film. Her character and performance is an ode to Lollywood which any Lollywood fan would cherish, as did I!

Noor Hassan and Sanam Chaudhry light up the screen whenever they make an appearance. Their chemistry is too good, their style game on-point, and contrary to what I had thought, these two have a screen presence and I am sure they will be a regular on our cinema screens. Here I would like to give a shout out to Sadya, the stylist for the film who did a phenomenal job as Sanam looked super chic in each and every shot, something that other film-makers need to focus on too. Acting wise the roles aren’t meaty enough, but wherever they get a chance they deliver and you enjoy it. How I wish the director focused more on these two instead of the other buffoons because demonstrating impartiality in screen time division isn’t always the best idea. Sigh.

As for the other supporting actors, Inayat Khan, who came across as an overenthusiastic teenager on a sugar high in the promo of song Lovely Dovely, was considerably calmer in the film. He does well, but something seems off about him, he should focus on television or maybe be a muscially star. Reyhna Pandit is hardly there and she was probably added for the glam factor. Javed Sheikh is seen in a character which he has himself done to death and he does okay for the kind of content he has been given. All other supporting actors, I wish you all weren’t there in the film, you’re not bad actors but your roles were loud, cheap and anything but funny. Also, there are quite a few cameos, which Lollywood fans will definitely enjoy.

Shoaib Khan who debuts as a film director with this one definitely shows promise as the camerawork and direction are applaud worthy, something which had made everyone sit up and take notice since the first trailer dropped. Furthermore, all the recce seemed to have worked as Shoaib was able to capture some beautiful locations in the songs, and with the kind of production values we saw, we are anxiously waiting to see what he does next. The screenplay of the film, despite the many ludicrous characters and situations, was well thought out and for a no-brainer, comedy was pretty solid and fast-paced.

The music of the film is another strength with ‘Shukriya’ and ‘Hay Naya Naya’ being particularly well composed and shot. The party number is also not bad and ‘Jojo Janta Hay’ is still stuck in my head as I write this review. Also, the use of many familiar Lollywood classics here and there was a wonderful idea, and as I briefly mentioned earlier the film pays a tribute to Lollywood with Sana’s character and the accompanying music perfectly added to it.

Generally, when I start my review I already have a working title, but this time around I am almost done and yet have no clue as to what the title should be. While on one side I did enjoy the production values, and the beautifully shot melodious songs, on the other side the omnipresence of low-grade comedians, with their crass humor brought about a very tacky feel to the film. The film was stuffed with too many annoying characters, but I guess its target audience was the single screen audience who I think will enjoy this khichdi. Yes that’s what I will call it- an awami khichi.

Verdict: Beautiful visuals, doltish characters, and slapstick-ish crass humor- yes that’s Jackpot for you in one line.

Na Band Na Baraati (Review): Pakistani cinema at its worst

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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Movie Name: Na Band Na Baraati

Release Date: June 16, 2018

Director: Mehmood Akhtar

Review by: Momin Ali Munshi

As I sit here penning my review, there is one thought that I cannot seem to get out of my mind, and that thought, actually a question, is not limited to one particular movie but is pertaining to all awful Pakistani movies that have come out in the past few years, more so this Eid. I want to ask people associated with these projects, how can you defend your films when you know about the many glaringly obvious flaws and glitches in the end product? When you know about your inferior production, then how and why do you expect others to not talk about it? Why is it that you make a horrendous film, yet I am the bad guy because I call a spade a spade?

Yes, at times there are films which divide audiences and people have a different point of view, but trust me, these films which are coming out of Pakistan, they don’t really fit that bill. And I am amazed at our prestigious publications who are giving out glowing reviews, obviously paid, to such films, which is even further complicating the entire situation. Someone reading this review might make me as the mad one, and even say that I think too highly of myself, but trust me, I’ve seen these films with ticket-paying audiences, hell I took a party of three myself to all the recent releases, so I know what the public perception is. All I want to say is that please get your act together guys, you are not fooling anyone, this will only damage the reputation of our film industry, in the long run, assuming an industry is left!

Anyhow, sorry for the rather lengthy rant, let’s get back to the film and let’s begin with the plot. The film revolves around brothers, Zahid (Shayan Khan) and Shahid (Mikaal Zulfiqar), who live in Canada with their family which includes an eccentric dad (Qavi Khan), mother (Azra Mohyeddin) and a younger sister(Komal Farooqi). Zahid is in love with Ayesha (Anzhelika Tahir), while Sahid is seeing Zoya (Nayab Khan). An elopement scare brings about a hasty marriage which is the turning point of the film after which begins the comedy of errors.

Now on paper, this may seem like a decent idea, yes it might not be something groundbreaking, but suitable enough as the basic premise for a romantic comedy. But since the writer takes his sweet time getting to the main part, which is where the film actually picks up speed, it is too late as the audience has already given up. Also, it doesn’t help that the action starts what, thirty minutes before the end credits roll? With dialogues that hardly elicit laughter. Wouldn’t be wrong to say that a lousy screenplay is one of the major flaws of the film!

Add to that a director who probably has no idea what he is doing, and voila you have a recipe for disaster. I have always maintained in my reviews that the director is the captain of the ship, and he is responsible for what we see on the screen, and when you have a first timer actor turned director who is probably hired because of his availability, what you get is a film with shaky camera work and no vision – basically horrible direction! I mean at times you feel that the director is probably not even there and a camera is just recording whatever action it can catch, where you are seeing the back of certain actors while they are talking, the actors are repeating the same dialogues thrice because they’ve probably forgotten what to say next and nobody is saying cut.

Moving to the acting bit, debutant Shayan Khan definitely looks the part of the hero but there is a lot he needs to work on if he wants to pursue acting as a career. Being a Pakistani American, there is the issue of diction which needs voice training, also he is rather stiff on camera, hopefully, he will improve with his next film. Anzhelika Tahir, yet another non-resident Pakistani who has the accent issue, and well her acting skills are probably the same as a wooden plank, need I say more?

Mikaal Zulfiqar has been wasted, as the actor is relegated to a few scenes which he does exceedingly well, but since his character is hardly there, he leaves no impact. The dishy dude definitely looked good on camera and we want to see more of him. Debutant Nayab Khan, who was paired opposite Mikaal, surprisingly does well too, despite being a Pakistani Canadian, she does give an honest performance, though again her character does not have much scope. But a nice addition to the industry.

As for Ali Kazmi and veterans Qavi Khan, Atiqa Odho, and Azra Mohiuddin, they all have badly written characters. It is not like they don’t have decent screen time, they do, but these supporting actors don’t have any content to perform, which results in weak, forgettable performances. Had these performances not been so weak, the film would have gotten a huge push, but alas bad writing killed the characters.

The music of the film is actually not bad but it is the banal and poorly done picturization/choreography which eventually leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The videos of ‘Pyar Wyar’ and ‘Wiki leak’ are particularly abhorrent. It was a shame since both these songs were actually pretty decently composed and sung.

I hear that the film just released internationally yesterday, and while on one side I am happy that our cinema is going international and hopefully the makers will recover some of the investment after a poor run in Pakistan, on the other hand, I am questioning if this is the cinema we want to export and show to the world?

Verdict: With poor writing and no vision, this is a new low, and Pakistani cinema at its worst.

7 Din Mohabbat In (Review): A stale fairy tale

By

Momin Ali Munshi

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Movie Name: 7 Din Mohabbat In

Release Date: June 16, 2018

Director: Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur

Review by: Momin Ali Munshi

Ever since its release this Eid, 7 Din Mohabbat In has divided the audiences and critics like no other. While on one side are reactions praising the film for its magical portrayal, others have relegated the film as fatuous drivel. Initially, when I saw the film, I completely dismissed it and felt cheated because I could not wrap my head around the fact that the film was written by Fasih Bari Khan, a personal favorite, and directed by Farjad-Meenu, who in the past gave us wonderful films like ‘Zinda Bhaag’ and ‘Jeevan Hathi’ (yes, I liked Jeevan Hathi). The fairy tale seemed absurd, the plot felt directionless, and the film: a far cry from a fulfilling cinematic experience.

Upon a careful analysis though, trying to pinpoint what made the film so nonsensical, I came to the realization that almost all faults of the film could be traced back to one main fatal flaw which rendered the film ineffective, and that is the fact that the film is stuffed to the gills! New characters are introduced at the drop of a hat, with no backstory and hardly any development or motive. The film tries to go preachy one instant and reverts back to being a no-brainer entertainer in the very next scene. And this struggle to do so much in 120 minutes is what ruined the film.

The main premise of the film is actually pretty interesting. A thirty-something geeky looking, unlucky in love, loser Tipu (Sheheryar Munawar), who lives a rather mundane life with his controlling mother (Hina Dilpazeer), and a melodramatic cousin Neeli (Mahira Khan), who has a penchant for all things filmy and is a hopeless romantic. Enters Jinn Dwarka Prasad (Javed Sheikh), who will make our zero into a hero, provided he, in seven days, gets a girl to profess her love for him. Failing to do so, however, will have him enslaved for eternity.

Now, while the basic idea: boy-girl-genie, is compelling, I do not fully agree with the proposition put forward by character Dwarka Prasad and feel it to be a lapse of judgment on writer’s part. You see the paradox, right? A guy who has failed in love, wants to be a hero so he can get himself a girl, finds a genie who says he will make him a hero, but he needs to find love for that? Kind of disoriented, no?

A lot of people have been defending the flaws of the film citing its fantasy nature as if the genre supposedly allows for such transgressions. No, it does not! ‘Once Upon A Time’ is an American fantasy television series which has captured the imagination of millions of people worldwide. The show is as fantastical as it gets, fairies, dragons, spells, and whatnot. But everything is carefully explained, and as the show often says, ‘magic has a price’, which reiterates that every action has a consequence and there is a reason why everything happens. Moreover, the well-written characters all have full-fledged back stories which is why they are what they are and hence all actions have clearly defined motives.

The characters of 7 Din Mohabbat In on the surface are extremely appealing, but there are so many of them and since not much has been done to develop them, they all fall short on one level or another. The makers invest in flashy introductions for every new character, while they could have focused on relevant flashbacks for a few main characters which would have brought more value. A lot of time is wasted on irrelevant characters, for instance, Sinbad (Mohammed Ehteshamuddin), whose entire purpose is just to give Tipu the magic lamp, has an entire lengthy VFX infused scene.

And while we are on the topic of wasting time and VFX, let me tell you that the makers pulled out all stops to flaunt the special effects they had managed to get for the film. Agreed, that what you had was amazing and a new milestone for CGI and sound design in Pakistan, but the constant display of these VFX effects not only resulted in a lot of un-needed scenes but after a point, the entire process became stale. New supporting character- New supporting characters there to support the supporting character-Dwarka’s appearance- Tipu looks into the lamp- Mahira scene and boom the process would reset itself.

I genuinely feel that had 7 Din Mohabbat In been a ten-part television series, or hell even a twenty episode drama series, it would have done wonders. The creators would have gotten more time to build on the universe, better explain the arcs, and present a well-rounded more engaging story. But since that did not happen, we had to see a cluttered film which was somewhat salvaged thanks to the brilliant acting by the cast and some genuinely hilarious sequences.

Sheheryar Munawar almost single-handedly carries the entire weight of the film on his shoulders and delivers a strong performance where he succeeds in creating a character which the audiences felt for. He looks the part, acts the part and does exceedingly well. The real surprise, however, is Mahira Khan, who sheds all inhibitions and does a role like she has never done before. She gets into the skin of the character and impresses with her performance and proves to be the comic relief, bringing a smile to the face whenever she was appears on screen.

Mira Sethi has a hilarious role, and she does well, but I don’t know if her part was edited or what but she was hardly there in the film. Really wanted to see more of her! Amna Ilyas proved her mettle as an actress with her first movie itself and here she reminds you yet again that models can definitely act, at least Amna can. All other supporting characters do well in the limited capacities and definitely gell well as an ensemble cast.

The background score of the film is a huge plus, and quite beautifully adds to the appeal of the film. However, the same cannot be said for the songs and their picturization which do not really leave much of an impact. I mean you can’t have a romantic number with Sheheryar Munawar-Mahira Khan and shoot it like a low budget song for an Eid telefilm. Especially when you have invested so much in VFX

Verdict: The film tries to be too many things and stuffs itself with a plethora of half-baked characters and situations, resulting in a stale tale which fails to entertain.