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Box Office: Breakdown Of Where Local And Foreign Releases Stand

By
Zaryan Khawar
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Since Eid-ul-Fitr the business cycle of the Pakistan box office has been going through a mixed phase. Eid releases brought some respite to the industry, proving that people are still willing to visit cinemas and give our local films a chance. There was a lot of cry for foul play with the release of Doctor Strange but the wholesome business that film managed helped the industry in making some good money. A string of new films have come out in the past few weeks which included local and foreign releases. It was heartening to see that cinemas have new releases, rather than films only coming out on Eid.

Local Releases

The first local release in the past few weeks was Peechay Toh Dekho. The Yasir Hussain starrer over 10 days of release had managed to collect Rs 40 lacs. The film, after registering a slow start over the first weekend managed to grow a bit in its second weekend, but the needed impact was missing. Despite being a comedy film, it could not generate the right word of mouth and failed at the box-office.

The second film to release was Rehbra. The Ahsan Khan-Ayesha Omar starrer finally released after facing many delays. The film, though liked by the people who saw it, was on the lower side of the box office. Over its first weekend, the film could only manage a meager 20 lacs. The film, in its complete run, might find it tough to touch the 1 crore mark. This will be a pretty poor performance for a film made on a good budget which is evident through the production quality. Ahsan and Ayesha are good stars with successful films (Chupan Chupai & Karachi Se Lahore) but sadly, this film did not connect with the audience.

The third film to release was Chaudhry. This one is a biopic of the famous police officer, Chaudhry Aslam Khan, but again the film failed to garner any response from the audiences as it only collected Rs 13 lac on the first weekend. The film has evidently been outrightly rejected.

We would say all these movie makers took the good step of releasing their films on a non-Eid period but the content may have let them down. They got good shows, but failed to generate the needed response.

Last local film to be talked about is Kamli. The film came out under a lot of hype, starring Saba Qamar and directed by ace film-maker Sarmad Khoosat. Kamli was targeting a niche audience and it thankfully managed to impress them, hence crossing the 5-crore mark at the box-office.

There is a lot of debate regarding whether this recovery is good or not, as the distributors seem to be unhappy with the performance. There is no clarity on the budget yet, so we cannot say much about the final verdict. One good thing is that the film got good shows and good legs among its target audience which led to it sustaining well. Post-COVID, this performance is a heartening sign for the industry that there is potential for well-made films.

Box Office: Foreign Releases

Post-COVID, a lot of animated films have failed to create the desired impact at the box-office. The swing towards OTT channels has led to parents making their children watch their favorite movies at home. Last Friday Minions: The Rise of Gru released in Pakistan, amassing a total of 78 lacs (22 lac + 26 lac + 30 lac) over the first weekend. This is a really good number considering the wave of animated films not doing great at the local box-office. The Sunday numbers being higher than Saturday numbers is a rarity in Pakistan, but Minions managed that too. With Eid holidays coming, this film seems like it will enjoy a long run and keep amusing kids.

The other big release Jurassic World Dominion, continued to stomp its way through at the local box office. The film collected a total of 75 lacs in its 4th weekend taking the total collections to a massive 13 crore 35 lac. These numbers are bigger than Jurassic World (2015) but lesser then Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) as that was an Eid-ul-Fitr release. The film got negative reviews but the big screen experience and family audience helped it sail through at the box office. This film is a clean hit and a good representation that people want to watch films which give them that big screen experience.

Last, but not the least, is Top Gun:Maverick, a film that has become a global phenomenon and re-established the fact that good content mixed with a big star can result in fireworks. The film collected a massive 72 lacs taking its total collections to 15 crores 65 lacs. After registering a first week of 5 crores these numbers show the kind of amazing trend this film has seen. Currently, it seems like nothing can stop this Tom Cruise starrer as it continues to rise, now being one of the highest grossers for Pakistan cinema in 2022. An epic blockbuster this one has turned out to be.

Overall Analysis

The stage is now set for all Eid releases, as the box office awaits gigantic films. London Nahi Jaunga, Quaid E Azam Zindabad, Lafangey (stuck with censors) and Thor: Love & Thunder are all tentpole films. In all fairness, it is a three-way clash but with the right show division, one knows that the industry will be having a few great weeks. We hope all films show great valor at the box office and happy days come back for the industry.

Lafangey Banned In Pakistan Over Content Issues

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Among the many releases that were set to grace the big screen this Eid-ul-Adha, Lafangey definitely stood out. A horror-comedy by genre, the film contained elements of humor that we’ve seen air on the big screen in the past, but are definitely eyebrow-raisers, especially in the current social climate. The title track of the film even states that the film is quite risky, which is why the ongoing chatter about Lafangey seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Is Lafangey Banned?

Here’s what we know. Journalist Hasan Kazmi took to Twitter to share that the Central Board of Film Censors has “unanimously rejected” the film, with the Chairman CBFC stating that the film contains “vulgar, and double-meaning language” alongside “several below-the-belt words,” and that the film “cannot be allowed in Pakistani cinemas.”

Trade analyst Ali Zain confirmed to Galaxy Lollywood that the censor boards have not passed the film, and it has been referred to a full board review in Islamabad.

The director of the film, Abdull Khaaliq Khan, in conversation with The Independent Urdu, expressed sorrow over this decision, stating that the film did not contain anti-state or anti-religious elements. He went on to state that if there were abuses, beeps could have been utilized or scenes could have been cut, but the banning of the entire film didn’t add up for him.

Cast, Crew, And Story

The film features Sami Khan, Mani, Saleem Mairaj, Mubeen Gabol, and Nazish Jahangir. It has been written and directed by Abdull Khaaliq Khan, produced by Al Wafiq Studios.

It features an array of faces we have come to love, sprinkled with humor, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and elements of the paranormal. It’s about four friends who are as thick as thieves. They chance upon a haunted house, where supernatural occurrences leave them with no choice but to eliminate their sense of fear and get to the bottom of what’s happening.

Given the hullabaloo that tends to encapsulate the entire process of films being banned, we must wait it out and see where Lafangey stands with the utmost certainty with regards to its rapidly approaching release date.

Sang-e-Mah Leaves Fans Torn With Polarizing Final Episode

By
Ifrah Butt
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HUM TV’s masterpiece, Sang-e-Mah came to an end. Although the drama didn’t come at par with its predecessor of a similar name (Sang-e-Mar Mar) it did, however, make a place for itself in the hearts of the masses. Addressing the social taboo of “Ghaag” at is core, Sang-e-Mah managed to shine a light on the practice of claiming a bride for oneself by the aerial firing of shots outside her house, and how this Ghaag has been at the heart of a lot of atrocities conducted in the tribal areas of Pakistan, even today.

Sang-e-Mah: The Story

Sang-e-Mah featured the story of a tribal Pashtun family – a dysfunctional one to be more accurate. This was a tribal family where pride and honor were held in the highest regard and given the utmost priority. Empathy and forgiveness were considered traits of the weak. The story of Sang-e-Mah was loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hilmand, the son of Zarsanga and Nasrullah Khan was strong willed and obstinate. His purpose in life was to avenge his father’s death, believing that his step-father Haji Marjaan killed him to marry his mother. On the other hand, Hikmat – Marjaan and Zarsanga’s son, happened to be in love with his cousin Gulmeena, the daughter of Zarsanga’s sister. When Gulmeena rejected Hikmat’s interest in Gulmeena, he decided to perform Ghaag outside her house, but animosity ensued when everybody discovered that Hilmand performed the Ghaag instead. As the events of the story unfurl, Hilmand comes face to face with his grandfather, Masha’Allah Khan, and he is the one who reveals the true story of his father’s murder.

In a parallel universe we had Sheherzade, a reporter who went to the village of Laspiraan to research on the practise of Ghaag. This is where Sheherzade met Marjaan, bonded with him, and also built an interest in Hilmand.

Sang-e-Mah focused on hard hitting topics like relationships between dysfunctional family members, and forced marriages and deceit – all elements transpiring to create a universe where hatred triumphed love for generations.

The Performances

Without a doubt, the ensemble cast of Sang-e-Mah delivered beautiful performances, each one in its own capacity. Each one of the veteran actors belonging to the star cast, whether it was Sania Saeed or Samiya Mumtaz, Naumaan Ijaz or Omair Rana, delivered performances that were remarkable. One actor, however, stood out of the entire cast, even though it happened to be his debut performance. Atif Aslam as Hilmand was simply brilliant. The singer-turned-actor nailed not only his expressions but his body language, his postures and his dialogue delivery. Kubra Khan as Sheherzade was outstanding, expressing naivety and strength where needed with thorough expertise. Hania Aamir as Gulmeena was good and Zaviyar Nauman as Hikmat, another good package. All in all, the entire cast of Sang-e-Mah did deliver on point performances, not failing to hold the audience captive for even a single second.

The Review (Spoilers Ahead)

When it was discovered that it was Zarsanga behind her husband’s murder and the real face of his father was revealed to Hilmand, we feel the boy should have gone on to forgiving his mother and Haji Marjaan. He did eventually repent for his hatred that he harbored over the years but it all came too late, when Haji Marjaan and Zarsanga valued suicide over repentance. The fact that Haji Marjaan had been shown as a very religious and pious man, it came as a shock that he would consider suicide over repentance, alongside his love, Zarsanga – and that too, with substance abuse. This has not settled well with the audience either.

Zarghuna making a place for herself and her female community at the jirga was a commendable feat. The tribe’s mutual decision to end Ghaag and consider it a crime to be punished in the future was a high point, but then, when a drama is favoring such a hard-hitting point, it shouldn’t have promoted something like suicide, even if it was committed to save face.

Performances by each and every member of the cast were spot on. While a lot of people might have had reservations about Atif Aslam playing Hilmand, for us, he happened to be an outstanding addition to the cast and he truly made the character of Hilmand his own. Samiya Mumtaz as Zarsanga was amazing. Sania Saeed has our endless praise as Zarghuna. Kubra Khan as Sheherzade was beautiful while Hania Aamir as Gulmeena, played her part well. Zaviyar Nauman has a long way to go, if compared to his father, Naumaan Ijaz, but the actor did portray his character of Hikmat to the best of his ability. Its a shame that we got very little of Masha’Allah Khan as he did bring his A-game as the best antagonist on the show. However, the way he deserted the jirga to save himself the embarrassment was rather unlikely of his character.

All in all, Sang-e-Mah ended on a relatively positive note when it comes to abolishing Ghaag. However, the suicides of Zarsanga and Haji Marjaan will definitely be a thorn prickling in our side, whenever we discuss Sang-e-Mah and how it ended. Perhaps the makers wanted to keep it similar to Hamlet and that’s how they thought it should have been. All in all, Sang-e-Mah has been a good watch.

Faysal Qureshi And Yasra Rizvi Open Up About Their Shelved Films

By
Ifrah Butt
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A film is not just made. A lot of hard work, money, aspirations, expectations and time goes into simply planning a film, let alone executing its production. From finding the right screenwriters to pen scripts that would appeal to the masses, securing funding, finding the right talent to create scenarios and locations aptly suited to the story, getting the right directors helming the ship, steering his actors in the right direction, to the editors making a full-fledged entertaining product, there is so much work to be done before a movie can hit theatres. The makers work day and night, but then something happens, and the project has to be shelved. Such is the case with Faysal Qureshi and Yasra Rizvi, who penned notes after announcing the news regarding their shelved films.

Senti Aur Mental

Among the shelved films being discussed, Yasra Rizvi’s project, Senti Aur Mental is included. The film, with its interesting teaser/trailer had caught the attention of many, and when Yasra announced that she had lost a lot of money shelving the project, a couple of followers did advise her to release it on an OTT platform too.

“I lost a lot of money and hardwork shelving this venture probably because it wasn’t good enough work or maybe I evolved during all the waiting but either way to tell you the truth it didn’t upset me as much as one would imagine,” said Yasra in an Instagram post.

The trailer of the film had brought across a comic ride for the audience and had received appreciation for its comic timing and funny anecdotes. Senti Aur Mental starred Irfan Khoosat, Beo Zafar, Nimra Bucha, Laila Wasti, Laila Zuberi, Saifi Hassan, Javed Jamal, Sajeer ud Din Khalifa, Sabiha Hashim, Sohail Sameer, Arez Ahmed, Faryal Mehmood, Zain Afzal, Jenaan Hussain, Faisal Imtiaz, Roha Qazi, Zille Huma, Iman Sumair and Kiran Siddiqui in pivotal roles and was being directed by Yasra Rizvi herself.

Sorry – A Love Story

Faysal Qureshi recently announced in a social media post that he was shelving Sorry – A Love Story for good. According to Faysal, he and Sohail had faced a lot of problems while shooting Sorry on part of a couple of people and then COVID struck following which the conditions of the industry didn’t sound feasible enough for releasing the film. The Bashar Momin star announced that he wanted to apologize to his fans for shelving this film that he referred to as ‘his baby.’

Faysal and Sohail also released a short teaser of Sorry for the fans who had been eagerly waiting for the movie. The teaser brought across an intriguing story of love and loss – something that would have definitely appealed to the masses. From the teaser, the background score, the cinematography, to the storyline and performances, all came across as remarkable, making us wish that Sorry could have seen the light of day.

Sorry was announced back in 2018 and initially starred Zahid Ahmed, Faysal Qureshi, Aamina Shaikh and Sonya Hussyn. Following internal issues, Sonya walked out of the film and Faryal Mehmood filled her role. According to Zahid Ahmed in an interview to a leading daily, Sorry was a romantic drama revolving around the theme of love; love between a boyfriend and a girlfriend, love between a husband and wife, love after having children, and love after separation.

It is rather unfortunate that these shelved films will not see the light of day. Let us hope the makers find a way to revive these projects, for us to be able to experience the work that has gone into the vision.

Pakistani Actors Who Belong In The Marvel Cinematic Multiverse

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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Ms Marvel is all the hype these days and we’re living for the representation. However, we can’t help but feel that with the multiverse being a given, many other Pakistani actors could hop aboard the Marvel train, should they be given a chance. Here are some of our picks, and suggestions as to who they could potentially play:

Mehwish Hayat: Captain Marvel

Okay, she’s already in the MCU and has some form of heroic roots planted within one reality of the multiverse. But hey, the multiverse is huge. She could be Captain Marvel. It could happen.

Mahira Khan: Black Widow

Mahira has the whole sultry, but badass look down, and seeing her as Black Widow would honestly make our day, our week, our month, even our year.

Ayeza Khan: Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff

Ayeza Khan could be a great Scarlet Witch. The character is multifaceted, as is Ayeza. If anything, this would be an intriguing challenge.

Sajal Aly: Jessica Jones

Great things come in fun-sized packages, and Sajal Aly’s innocent demeanor would always give her the edge as this superhero with a bevy of powers.

Saba Qamar: Phoenix

The evergreen Saba Qamar would be a great Phoenix (or even Dark Phoenix, for that matter). Sign her up and let her unlease her might. If we’re being honest, Saba would even kill it as Scarlet Witch. She’s just that talented.

Ahsan Khan: Vision

Okay. Hear us out. Vision is played by Paul Bettany, who is British. Ahsan Khan is a British-Asian actor. He could work here and there. Yeah?

Humayun Saeed: Wolverine

Come on. Wouldn’t you want to see Humayun Saeed in battles as Wolverine? We’d pay good money to see that. He’s basically a superhero in a local context anyway.

As a side note: Hamza Ali Abbasi could also be a great Wolverine.

Shaan Shahid: The Hulk

This has to be the most obvious pick. Shaan Shahid could do Hulk, but Mark Ruffalo couldn’t do Asoo Billa.

Fawad Khan: Thor

While he’s also in the MCU, can you imagine Fawad Khan swinging his hammer around? Also – his Maula Jutt looks gives MAJOR Thor vibes. He’s definitely worthy.

Zahid Ahmed: Loki

Name a better Loki than this man. He’s more than proven himself, time and again. Get Zahid Ahmed a Marvel contract ASAP.

Sheheryar Munawar: Captain America

He’s got the cute look that’s needed, but he also knows how to get down to business. It could happen. Parey Hut Chris.

Adnan Siddiqui: Iron-Man

COME ON. He’s got the sass, he’s got the looks, and he’s got the wit.

Wahaj Ali: Spider-Man

Wahaj has the boy-next-door look down. You’d want him as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, wouldn’t you?

Ahad Raza Mir: Doctor Strange

Just give this man The Cloak of Levitation and watch him work his magic.

Feroze Khan: Hawkeye

We know Hawkeye can be a polarizing character. Perhaps, Feroze Khan could shoot his shot and remedy that.

Star Lord: Imran Ashraf

There is nothing Imran Ashraf can’t do. Playing Peter Quill/Star Lord should be a walk in the guardian – uh, we mean, garden.

Fahad Mustafa: Deadpool

Fahad Mustafa is local Deadpool. The humor, the hint of rebellion, and a charming, devil-may-care attitude – man’s got it all. Change our minds.

Who else are we forgetting? Which Pakistani actor do you want to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know in the comments.

Alizeh Shah In Hot Water After Eveready Pictures Files Complaint

By
Ifrah Butt
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Who doesn’t know the doe-eyed beauty, Alizeh Shah? Not a newcomer anymore, Alizeh Shah has now been a regular part of the Pakistani television industry for quite a few years now. She has done a lot of work adding to her TV profile but hardly have there been any remarkable roles, associated solely with Alizeh. Yes, the starlet has been a part of some hit television shows and a film as well, but we’re all awaiting an extraordinary breakthrough performance.

Alleged Behavioral Issues

Despite all this, she has been in the news often because of her alleged behavioral problems. Alizeh Shah has been termed ‘’unprofessional’’ and ‘’rude’’ by her fellow co-stars on certain occasions. One such incident happened when last year, veteran actor and director Yasir Nawaz called Alizeh Shah his most difficult co-star.

Not only Yasir, but actor Naveed Raza and actress Zarnish Khan also went on record to say that Alizeh Shah had not only been unprofessional, but held personal grudges on sets against her co-stars. Zarnish referred to Alizeh as ‘batameez’ because of the latter’s general disregard for her senior actors.The Ishq Tamasha actress has also lashed out at actor/producer Humayun Saeed at one point when he reached out to her for a problem with her dates, as reported by The Current.

Eveready Pictures Vs Alizeh Shah

Now, we have a major production house, Eveready Pictures, lodging a formal complaint against Alizeh to the UPA (United Producers Association). According to the complaint, Alizeh Shah’s tantrums have grown to a point where she left a shoot midway. The Ehd-e-Wafa starlet deserted the set unannounced which allegedly caused the production house huge monetary damages. The UPA confirmed receiving a complaint against Alizeh Shah for having left the set without any prior information which resulted in serious production losses for Eveready Pictures.

Allegedly she left the drama shoot of Mohabbat Ki Akhri Kahani, which was being shot in Kashmir, without any information and reason. Mohabbat Ki Akhri Kahani is a multistarrer production by Eveready Pictures and stars Sami Khan in the lead.

Considering the odds haven’t been in her favor for quite some time, this move may prove to be fatal to her career. As of now, we all await the UPA’s decision regarding the starlet.

Lafangey Plagiarism Allegations Raise Creativity Concerns

By
Ozair Majeed
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The mutual creative obsession between Lollywood and Bollywood has a long history. The latter being a big, global industry, is well known for unapologetically copying content, and twisting plots with minor differences. Having said that, many times things have been the other way around, with Lollywood blatantly copying Bollywood. Has a case of the same occurred with Lafangey? The film touches base with the genre of horror-comedy that bears striking similarities with the 2017 Indian Telugu film ‘Anando Brahma‘.

A Sneak Peek Into Lafangey

Now, before we further investigate this case of plagiarism, FYI, Lafangey is written and helmed by Abdull Khaaliq Khan. Produced by Tariq Habib Rind, the film features Sami Khan, Mani, Saleem Mairaj, Mubeen Gabol, and Nazish Jahangir. The film is slated to release on Eid-ul-Azha 2022.

Lafangey Vs Anando Brahma

The plot of Lafangey primarily revolves around four men. Due to some personal gains, they enter a haunted house hijacked by ghosts. Right from the word go, the setup, the production design, lifted characters, camera angles, and edit points, every frame is copied from ‘Anando Brahma,’ be it the sequence where Mani plays the flute in front of an empty chair or Nazish Jehangir’s mirror scene to the finale act where Saleem Mairaj is flying on a chair.

Wait…There’s More

For the unversed, Anando Brahma turned out to be quite an inspiration for regional filmmakers in India. The film was adapted as Petromax (Tamil), Bhootchakra Pvt. Ltd (Bengali), Mane Maratakkide & Damayanthi (Kannada) in 2019.

Been There Seen That

How many of you remember the 2017 Chupan Chupai that starred Ahsan Khan and Neelam Muneer? The movie turned out to be a decent hit at the box office but also gave us a shock value of being a total rip-off of the 2013 Tamil movie ‘Soodhu Kavvum‘. Adding more to the horror was the fact that the makers did not mention any credit in the trailer, end credits, or posters.

Does Lollywood Lack Good Content?

The idea of exploring a new genre is fine, but why not create an original rather than a shameless copy? Pakistan has enormous talent, and the talent of our writers should be tested to create good scripts. Going by the present situation of cinema, filmmakers should focus on uplifting their image, and be distinctive to enlighten and entertain the audience.

Lafangey: Final Word

As for Lafangey, the producers so far have maintained silence. The practice of copy-pasting by our filmmakers is unfortunate. Pushing out original content is the need of the hour, to keep local cinema alive.

It’s High Time We Changed Our Misogynistic Attitude Towards Actresses

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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There are numerous practices rooted in misogyny that many of us utilize as a weapon and shield in our daily lives. How we see influential women, and our subsequent judgment that eventually snowballs into becoming public opinion, often has the potential to not only be harmful at large, but also negatively impact the individuals concerned. If you need help navigating through whether or not you’re being misogynistic towards actresses, here’s a list (that you can feel free to add to):

Attaching A Misogynistic “Shelf Life”

Attaching a shelf-life to actresses, when it comes to their age, or their choice to opt for motherhood (and using that as a speculative determinant), is thoroughly misogynistic, especially given the fact that those standards do not apply to their male counterparts.

Invasive Speculation

Is she married? Is she dating someone? If she is, can we somehow use that as a statement around her character? Is she pregnant? Questions and subsequent actions such as these are invasive, especially when an artist has only offered up their art to you for consumption, and not their personal sense of self.

Not Cutting Them The Slack You Cut Actors

Double standards exist. There are no two ways about that. An actress smoking will warrant a ton of backlash, whereas an actor doing smoking photoshoots is the norm. The harmful act of smoking becomes permissible for one, and inexcusable for the other. This same principle can apply to a bevy of other examples, but you get the gist.

Unrealistic Body Expectations

There is one body type we see being passed off as acceptable, and it is not one that is easy to obtain or maintain for women at large. Throw in pregnancies and the disappearance of actresses till they have shed that weight – all of these uphold markers of a misogynistic mindset we tend to have when judging women on-screen.

Misogynistic Shaming

Women need not do much to be a target of shaming. The slightest display of humanness unleashes a bevy of trolls, who send out messages that police their sense of self at the drop of a hat.

How Can We Do Better?

Our opinions matter. The mindset we have and choose to project has an impact. Why let the ingenious work of some of the most iconic stars be overshadowed by misogynistic thinking? A moment of reflection and introspection could go a long way. Perhaps, it’s high time we started trying.

Lafangey Trailer Differentiates Film From Other Upcoming Releases

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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The Lafangey trailer is out, and honestly, there’s a lot going on. Releasing on Eid-ul-Azha alongside Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad and London Nahi Jaunga, the film has giants to stand up against, and perhaps what sets it apart is its genre.

Lafangey: Cast & Crew

The film features Sami Khan, Mani, Saleem Mairaj, Mubeen Gabol, and Nazish Jahangir. It has been written and directed by Abdull Khaaliq Khan, produced by Al Wafiq Studios.

The Plot

By what one can gather from the trailer, four friends who are thick as thieves chance upon a haunted house, where supernatural occurrences leave them with no choice but to eliminate their sense of fear and get to the bottom of what’s happening. The four leads seem to immerse themselves into the universe of screenplay, playing their parts well. However, Sami Khan must be pointed out for his incredibly natural performance, as far as the first look is concerned.

First Look

The first official look for Lafangey was the title track, which is a ride in and of itself. Hilariously crafted, with cheeky lyrics, if you haven’t given the title track a listen, you must do so right away. It captures the essence of the film really well, alongside being a fun listen.

Dissecting The Lafangey Trailer

A visual array of faces we have come to love, sprinkled with humor, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and elements of the paranormal, the trailer is definitely intriguing. It’s different, which is a key factor in pulling in audiences.

Verdict So Far

How the film fares this Eid ul Azha will be a matter worth noting, given that while it is different, it is facing against major local giants, as well as another Marvel beast ready to lure in the general public. Lafangey has what it takes to be an interesting watch. Let us all wait with bated breath to see what its fate will be.

Dear Fawad Khan: We’re Eagerly Awaiting Your Comeback

By
Sajeer Shaikh
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We know, we know. Fawad Khan has made a few appearances here and there ever since his huge stint in Bollywood. Fans were initially teased with Maula Jutt, the release of which remains a mystery. We’re aware of his role in the films, Money Back Guarantee, which was postponed due to COVID, and Neelofar, starring Fawad, Mahira Khan, and Madiha Imam.

Audiences were overjoyed to catch glimpses of him in Ms Marvel, which, to be fair, could not be more apt. He deserves to be lodged within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, we’re all eagerly waiting for a legitimate comeback, which is why we’re penning down this open letter to Fawad Khan.

Fawad Khan: The Finest Craftsman?

Fawad is a brilliant actor. There is no way around that fact. Not that this is any measure, but it’s ridiculously incredible how in a film with Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, your eyes gravitate towards Fawad Khan. He can, unsurprisingly, hold his own amongst giants, and that in itself is a huge compliment to his art.

Other than the fact that he would have easily ruled Bollywood, had it not been for the artist ban, the man is already a household name in Pakistan. His iconic roles are quoted till date, whether it’s Zaroon from Zindagi Gulzar Hai, or Ashar from Humsafar. He has given the local television industry some of his best performances, breathing life into characters that have stood the test of time.

Pointing Out The Obvious

Let’s not beat around the bush. He’s one of the most handsome actors that Pakistan has to offer. While his acting chops are undeniable, he can also sing (EP fan here) and dance, making him a dangerously loaded triple threat. The fact that all that talent is being underutilized is a disservice to the industry, the fans, and the man himself.

A Collective Request For Fawad Khan

It’s been far too long, and fans are bubbling with eagerness, as we all wait with bated breath for the big comeback. Film, television, or both – we just need to see the man back in action. Therefore, as devoted fans, all we can do is patiently put forth this request: Fawad Khan – wapis ajao. Please.

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