by We often speak about revival of cinema in Pakistan, and I had always been arguing that revival is for things that are in oblivion, but here our Lollywood was never forgotten, yes, it may be on a recess due to various factors but was never extinct, and, recently there has been a wave of new film makers experimenting all genres of film-making, from Drama to History, to Comedy to Thrillers. For a country where an entire generation grew up without ever having seen the inside of a cinema, a new cinema going culture has arrived and is by all accounts being embraced with the greatest of enthusiasm.
Decrepit and dingy cinema halls have been traded in for slick cineplexes equipped with plush seats, modern technology and the promise of a film ‘experience’. Going to the cinema has become not only an acceptable but a desirable activity as well, and the choices, whether in terms of show times, cinema locations or the films themselves, are extensive.
The good news, despite the challenges is that the success and popularity of this year’s efforts in film will encourage others to venture into this field next year. We may or may not have better films, but what is certain is that there will be local films and in all likelihood, more of them. Being a filmmaker myself, I have always felt, that cinema has to be segregated from our television industry, however, few filmmakers were not very successful in doing so, and result we ended watching telefilms on cinema screen, and thus somehow the magic of cinema was amiss. I feel so happy that recently I had a chance to watch three beautiful movies in cinema, different genres, different filmmakers but same treatment, the treatment some of the ace directors failed to deliver, and yes I am speaking about the feel of the movie, the very essence, that grips audience to the very last scene.
I’ll begin my blog with the very recent movie that Lollywood has to offer and showing in cinemas, 8969, the movie is a murder mystery; along with a serial killer’s trivia twist to the story. The makers claim that its story is based on real events, whatever it may be, but, usually Dial M for Murder if not dialed attentively leads to a wrong number, however, I am glad, 8969 did not dragged or deviated from its basic plot, and gripped me to my seat until the very last scene, the VFX and sound of the movie is at par to any international cinema and yes this one reminded me of the Lollywood cinema I used to cherish watching in Drive Inn cinema… 8969 is written and directed by Azeem Sajjad who deserves every applaud as he meticulously kept his movie audience engrossed. The film stars Saba Qamar, Hussain Tiwana, Sadaf Hamid and Ali Jabran Khan in lead roles and is produced under the production banner of A J Media Productions. If you haven’t yet watched it, I will recommend better do it now!
Another movie that I would highly recommend is just one hour in duration but a complete celluloid jewel in Pakistani cinema and probably one of the best dark comedies to be produced in ages, Jeewan Hathi, produced under Matteela Films. The film is directed by the duo of Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi who previously directed Zinda Bhaag in the year 2013, Pakistan’s entry to the Oscars, The cast of the film includes Samiya Mumtaz, Hina Dilpazeer, Naseeruddin Shah, Saife Hassan, Fawad Khan, Adnan Jaffar, Nazarul Hassan and Kiran Tabeer. This particular movie penned by Fasih Bari Khan is a satirical take on the morning shows and television channels race for TRP’s and how selfish human may be. Hina Dilpazeer is depicting herself as a morning show host, a portrayal she performed excellently.
If you are a lover of social premise drama with an angle of romance to it then better wear your boots and head to the cinema near you for this coherent and comprehensible romantic film Dobara Phir Se directed by Mehreen Jabbar. With a stellar cast consisting of Ali Kazmi, Hareem Farooq, Adeel Hussain, Tooba Siddiqui, Sanam Saeed, Atiqa Odho, Shaz Khan, and child actor, Musa Khan, film’s story revolves around a character of a divorced Pakistani woman based in New York City who visits an upscale Connecticut suburb to visit her estranged ex-mother-in-law, defying her natural instincts that are making her fall in love with a handsome architect who himself is no less than a Casanova. This film is a tsunami of emotions and I bet a lot better than the panama drama on news channels!
These films have seriously contributed as the change of the face of Pakistani cinema, but more is needed to make the film industry more sustainable. Pakistani cinema has reached the tipping point. Gone are the days of the gujjars and gandaasas, seamlessly replaced by a mix of artsy biopics, big budget entertainers, kitschy coming of age numbers and rollicking, if raunchy, comedies. Welcome to a new age of Pakistani cinema, one that is set to change the entertainment scene forever.