5 Films That Helped Pakistani Cinema Find Its Roots In This Decade

With the revival of Pakistani Cinema, came a need to carve an identity. Bollywood is known for its hip-swaying musical dramas, with some Art films thrown in for substance. Hollywood covers an extensive range from Super Heroes, human stories, dramas, thrillers and of course, comedy.

In the present scenario, Pakistani cinema, in its relative infancy, needed to do two things: create an identity in the present cinema scene and also, disengage itself from the overpowering shadow of Pakistani dramas to create content that had an engaging beginning, a meaningful plot, a rightly timed and effective climax and a powerful end – all in under 3 hours!

It is pertinent to note that Pakistani cinema has had a special relationship with changing decades; the first year of an upcoming decade more or less describes how the industry will behave during the next 10 years. The start of all 3 decades up till the 70s was impressive. However, the industry nose-dived in the 1980s. The last decade (2000 – 2009) was a disaster, (despite some technological advances).

It was left to seasoned filmmakers to stage a comeback and through these 5 films, Pakistan finally managed to find its roots, and carve a separate identity in world cinema. Read on:

1. Bol (2011)

Written, directed and produced by: Shoaib Mansoor

Cast: Humaima Malick, Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam, Manzar Sehbai, Iman Ali, Zeb Rehman

What made it a path-breaking film?

ShoMan’s Bol came out at a time when films were not being made in Pakistan, and TV was about to discover Humsafar. His movie tackled many issues including family planning, illiteracy, and treatment of transgenders, and helped filmmakers believe that if the content is strong, nothing can stand in the way of success. The film also introduced Manzar Sehbai, Mahira Khan and Humaima Malik cine-goers while Atif Aslam’s acting stint began and ended with it.

2. Main Hoon Shahid Afridi (2013)

Written by: Vasay Chaudhry

Directed by: Syed Ali Raza Usama

Cast: Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahnoor Baloch, Nadeem Baig, Shafqat Cheema, Ismail Tara, Javed Sheikh, Shehzad Sheikh, Noman Habib

What made it a path-breaking film?

Before he became Pakistan’s most successful producer, Humayun Saeed was struggling to find his footing in films. With Main Hoon Shahid Afridi, he not only managed to do that but also showed to upcoming filmmakers that a commercial film made right can do wonders at the box office. MHSA might not have set the box office on fire but it made the producers aware of their talent, and they went on to deliver Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, Punjab Nahi Jaungi and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 in the coming years.

3. Moor (2015)

Written, directed and produced by: Jami

Cast: Shaz Khan, Hameed Sheikh, Samiya Mumtaz, Ayaz Samoo, Soniya Hussain

What made it a path-breaking film?

The revival of the film industry that began with Na Maloom Afraad was moving at a monotonous pace until Moor came along. Ad maker Jami’s flick had multiple tracks featuring both Baluchistan and Karachi in the background. Its treatment was more like an English film than a local one and made people aware of the fact that if one has self-belief, they can go against the norm and make a name while swimming against the tide. Hameed Sheikh’s superlative performance along with that of debutant Shaz Khan and veteran Samiya Mumtaz was the film’s highlight. Strings’ soundtrack still gives the listeners goosebumps and one hopes they will return to films and make more music like Moor.

4. Shah (2015)

Written, directed and produced by: Adnan Sarwar

Cast: Adnan Sarwar, Gulab Chandio

What made it a path-breaking film?

Before Shah, no one would have supported a film featuring an unknown actor, an inexperienced director and an untested scriptwriter. After Shah, many people left their day jobs to make films and entertain the audience in their own way. Even Adnan Sarwar who took a break from everything to train as a boxer portrayed legendary pugilist Syed Hussain Shah like never before. The film may not have done well at the box office but it heralded the era of Indie films, that also saw Motorcycle Girl, Cake and others hit the screen in the coming years.

5. Actor In Law (2016)

Written by: Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi

Directed by: Nabeel Qureshi

Cast: Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat, Om Puri, Alyy Khan, Saleem Meraj, Saboor Aly, Lubna Aslam

What made it a path-breaking film?

Actor In Law is by far the most complete film to come out of Pakistan in the last 10 years. Featuring a star cast, a stellar soundtrack and a story that was never touched before, this Fizza – Nabeel project became the year’s most successful film. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that on this side of the millennium, it was the best Pakistani film where Fahad Mustafa played an actor who is mistaken for a lawyer and helps people before he is in the need of help himself. Mehwish Hayat played a Parsi reporter who aids him in his endeavor while late Bollywood actor Om Puri played the father who rescues Fahad Mustafa’s character at the climax.

If Pakistan is to enter into the new decade with a ban on Bollywood, a ticket price beyond the audience’s reach and lack of quality local films, the industry will have to do more than just bank on these successful flicks.

Even though Pakistani productions are breaking new ground, film makers need to be more sensitive about scripting and story lines. We are teetering on the edge of success – not quite there, but nearly there – Quite the balancing act! In essence – until and unless we make more path-breaking films, Pakistan’s film industry might not survive that long, and the fruits of revival may turn out to be a thing of the past.