Every year, Pakistani cinema delivers a film or two that raises the bar for the audience; in 2019.
Hum Films released the bulk of films that not only did well in the cinemas but also entertained the audience.
Some of them were all-out romantic, others were action-oriented while a few were out and out comedy flicks that made the audience laugh out loud. Let’s talk about five such films that will always be remembered whenever the year 2019 is mentioned.
Superstar
Director: Mohammad Ehteshamuddin
Cast: Nadeem Baig, Mahira Khan, Bilal Ashraf, Alizeh Shah, Saife Hasan, Asma Abbas, Javed Sheikh, Marina Khan, Ali Kazmi
Distributors: Hum Films
Superstar had a lot of first; it had a director who hadn’t directed a film before, a writer who was writing his first film, a dialogue writer who excelled on TV and above all, the first time veteran actor Nadeem Baig was working with a director who entered showbiz after watching him on screen. Yes, veteran actor turned director Ehteshamuddin termed Superstar to be close to his heart because it had Nadeem Baig (his inspiration), Mahira Khan (his leading lady from Sadqay Tumhare), Bilal Ashraf (in a totally different role) and Alizeh Shah in her first film.
Released on Eid ul Azha, the film ran for as many as 100 days in cinemas and became highest grossing flick of 2019, with all of its songs becoming popular during the year. When asked about the experience, this is what Ehteshamuddin had to say:
‘Ever since I wanted to be a director, I wanted to work with Nadeem sahib and although that couldn’t happen before Superstar, I kept hoping that one day we will work together. And with Superstar, we did. You will be surprised to know that the first film I saw in the cinema was Nadaan featuring Nadeem sahib back in the early 1970s and after watching that film, I started playing a dhol like his character of Bhola in the film. I saw many of his films in the cinema but the best part was directing him in Superstar. He even told me that he wouldn’t forget my name since it was the same as his first director and father-in-law Ehtesham Sahib.’
Laal kabootar
Director: Kamal Khan
Cast: Ahmed Ali Akbar, Mansha Pasha, Rashid Farooqi, Saleem Meraj, Mohammad Ahmed
It came, it screened and it conquered, that’s Laal Kabootar for you which was the first Pakistani film to be released after the ban on Indian films.
It was in no way inferior to the films from the other side and kept the audience entertained, even if it didn’t do well at the box office. It was one of the first films that revolved around the criminal underworld and that’s why had a lot of dialogues that were censored but even then the intensity with which Ahmed Ali Akbar, Mansha Pasha, Saleem Meraj, Rashid Farooqi, and others performed, it was a treat to watch. Mansha Pasha who recently got engaged to Jibran Nasir disclosed the reason why she chose to go for Laal Kabootar when it was offered to her:
‘The role wasn’t out of this world but the treatment, the experience of working with a thinking director was. Kamal Khan worked in a completely different way than the other directors I have worked with. The character of Aalia was relatable to all but it was the treatment that made it appear as even better because it was well executed.’
Chhalawa
Director: Wajahat Rauf
Cast: Mehwish Hayat, Azfar Rehman, Zara Noor Abbas, Asad Siddiqui, Aashir Wajahat, Mehmood Aslam, Mohsin Ejaz, Adnan Shah Tipu
Distributors: Hum Films
Wajahat Rauf made a return to films as writer, director and producer of Chhalawa and had Mehwish Hayat in the cast, who finally did a feature film away from Nabeel Qureshi and Nadeem Baig camp.
With Azfar Rehman, Zara Noor Abbas and Asad Siddiqui in the cast, the film was always supposed to do well. At first, it announced that it would release alongside The Legend of Maula Jatt on Eid ul Fitr, but when Bilal Lashari couldn’t release the film, Chhalawa became the only release of Eid, and came out with Wrong No 2 that also did well. Mehwish Hayat who received Tamgha-e-Imtiaz during the filming of Chhalawa termed it a great experience:
‘It was fun if you ask me; it was because Azfu was there that we had more fun. We worked in Punjab Nahi Jaungi but he had a minor role, whereas here he is playing the main lead. The only ‘problem’ I had with him was in the romantic scene as I was more comic than romantic. Even though it had a positive effect on me as an actor, the producers must have thought ‘why the hell is she not crying or being romantic in the scene. Overall, like Enaaya, Chhalawa was a happy set and it comes out on-screen.’
Ready Steady No
Director: Hisham Bin Munawwar
Cast: Amna Ilyas, Faisal Saif, Salman Shahid, Ismail Tara, Nargis Rasheed, Zain Afzal, Marhoom Bilal Ahmed, Muneer Ahmed
Distributors: Hum Films
Usually, a low-budget comedy doesn’t have a high-quality script or a soundtrack worth your years but Ready Steady No was different. It was written, directed and produced by Hisham Bin Munawwar and introduced Faisal Saif as the leading man, one who can act, dance and do comedy too.
This was Amna Ilyas’ second release of the year but was ready even before Baaji was announced. The film wasn’t a box office success but whoever saw it, liked the way it was made; the leading pair looked more in love than any other film in 2019 whereas the soundtrack had fewer but much better songs compared to other films. And then there was Muneer Ahmed whose antics as a detective were nothing short of hilarious.
BAAJI
Director: Saqib Malik
Cast: Meera, Amna Ilyas, Osman Khalid Butt, Ali Kazmi, Nisho Begum, Mohsin Abbas Haider, Nayyar Ejaz, Aamir Qureshi
Distributors: Hum Films
And finally, the film that promoted Saqib Malik from veteran ad filmmaker to a film director – Baaji. It came out at a time when the Cricket World Cup was on, Pakistan Cricket team was winning and Indian films were banned.
Even then, Baaji did the unthinkable and managed to pull the audience towards itself. Be it Meera’s lifelike performance or Amna Ilyas’ wonderful take as her protégé, Osman Khalid Butt’s mysterious acting, and Mohsin Abbas Haider’s loverboy routine, the film had everything a blockbuster required. Add some of the best songs remixed and Saqib Malik had a winner on your hand. Amna Ilyas had a lot to add, since she featured in two films in 2019, two very good films in fact.
‘I always believe in myself and that whatever character I am enacting, it would stand out. In all my films people remember my performances be it against Meera, Mahira or any other actress. What convinced me to go for Baaji was the fact that it was not going to be a one-woman film but revolved around two women. The first half (of Baaji) definitely belongs to Meera and when I signed the film, I knew that the film till the interval will revolve around her character.’
‘However, in the second half, the story takes a shift and things start happening around my character. I would like to mention here that the film starts with me, intermission is on me and it even ends on me, so I don’t have any issue regarding the limelight. Had that been the case, I would never have said yes to the role of Ghazala in 7 Din Mohabbat In. I never wanted it to be a film about my character but if you remove Neha from the equation, it will result in an incomplete film.’
from HUM TV – Watch Dramas Online https://ift.tt/39h8qfd
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