The much-awaited teaser of Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustaf a's Quaid-e-AzamZindabadwas unveiled on Saturday night.

Packed with action, explosion and parkour-style chases, the entertainer is laced with thrill amongst combat stunts by Mustafa, who plays the role of a cop. Khan too, is no damsel in distress, engaging in self-defence with some pepper spray.

'Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad' teaser releases with an action-packed promise

The teaser of the much-awaited movie Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad came out Saturday night and fans just can't get enough of it. Starring Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan, the teaser didn't reveal much of the plot but promises an action-packed and thrilling ride.

The teaser opens with a shot of Mustafa in a police uniform beating goons black and blue. He has a no-nonsense attitude. Khan, on the other hand, looks as gorgeous as ever and is more than just a damsel in distress. In one of the scenes in the teaser, she can be seen fending off enemies with pepper spray in her hand, showing that she will play an equal part in action with Mustafa.

Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah founded Pakistan, and Nabeel - Fizza resurrected the film industry in 2014; together, they are back to make the 'film' industry stand on its two feet with an aptly titled Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad. The teaser of the film was released online and became the talk of the town because of its epic everything. Be it Fahad Mustafa's swag, Mahira Khan's new look, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza All Meerza's ability to predict what the audience would love or the help from Quaid-e-Azam, everything is there in bulk.

The movie will ‘truthfully’ depict the horrors of the 1971 Liberation War, as well as the crimes committed by the Pakistani army in its attempt to crush opposition from the former East Pakistan

'Khel Khel Mein' is the first post-pandemic Pakistani film to be released in theaters after the Covid-19 pandemic halted production.

Since the release of the first teaser on 30 October, the film has been creating news. According to sources, 'Khel Khel Mein' will 'truthfully' depict the horrors of the 1971 Liberation War, as well as the crimes committed by the Pakistani army in its attempt to crush opposition from the former East Pakistan. The film's short synopsis states, "A story inspired by true events, unfolding 50 Years of mistrust, memories, and myths." Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi co-wrote the film, which stars Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas in the key roles. Marina Khan, Javed Sheikh, Samina Ahmed, and Manzar Sehbai are among the cast members. The background score was composed by Shani Arshad, Shuja Hyder and Asrar Shah. The film, directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza, is about two generations of Pakistanis: those who witnessed and actively participated in the 1971 war, and others who are challenging the official state narrative and striving to discover the war's previously hidden horrors. 'Khel Khel Mein' is scheduled to release on 19 November.

Khel Khel Mein starring Bilal Abbas Khan and Sajal Aly became the first Pakistani film to release post the pandemic and it has brought the life back to cinemas which were witnessing a lull since the last two years. Based on the fall of Dhaka, the film has garnered good word of mouth from the public.

The film has collected a total of 1.85 crores in its first week which considering the limited screens it got and being the first film to come out post the pandemic is a good enough result.

Pakistani cinemas, which barely survived the pandemic, are now ready to welcome audiences back to the theatre. All attendees must provide proof of vaccination, which makes it safer for people to watch upcoming movies on their favourite cinema screens. Filmwala Pictures, which was founded by Nabeel Qureshi in 2004, has delivered multiple hit movies including Actor in Law, Load Wedding, and Na Maloom Afraad 1 and 2. Filmwala Pictures is set to release “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad” on Eid ul Azha in 2022.

Nabeel Qureshi’s latest film, “Khel Khel Mein”, consists of a star-studded lineup of actors and a host of new faces. The story revolves around the experiences of a group of university students, with Zara, who is portrayed by the actress Sajal Aly, and Saad, who is depicted by the actor Bilal Abbas Khan, featuring as protagonists. The campus life depicted in the film takes place in a fictional university called the Institute of Management Science, which feels all too real due to its strict bureaucracy, censorship, and endless red tape. In the film “Khel Khel Mein”, Fizza Ali Meerza and Nabeel Qureshi have created individual storylines for each of their characters, which eventually tie into the main message of the film. The side characters, who develop their distinct voices over the course of the film, add their unique backgrounds, personalities, and identities to the plot, and deliver memorable performances.

Sajal Aly’s scenes commence with her grandmother addressing other students and eventually talking to authoritative figures of the university. Sajal’s character has socially reflective and self-aware moments, which allow audiences to connect with her. She delivers an emotional, compassionate, and sincere commitment to her character Zara, who aspires to positively reshape her family’s history. The film carries a message of peace, which is revealed through staging a shared history of the subcontinent that has yet to fully recover from the grief and tragedy of the past. It shifts the focus from the centralized and dogmatic narrative of politics to the stories of individuals. “Khel Khel Mein” highlights the efforts of individuals who aspire to recover and break free from hateful and political propaganda.

“Khel Khel Mein” asks audiences to reflect on: why we choose to live in ignorance of our past, our ability to separate fact from fiction, and our reluctance to deeply investigate our history. By showcasing the stories of a group of university students, the film reminds the audience that the future lies in the hands of the new generation. Zara’s quest becomes a metaphor for peace and it pushes her friends and contemporaries to realize significant truths about our shared history. The flashbacks of communities and neighborhoods which are fraught with conflict and war, are gripping as well as intense and leave the audience feeling emotional. As we move from the past to the present, we begin to understand how little we know of that period of conflict. We see these young people either too busy with achieving material success, managing family expectations or handling financial burdens to be overly concerned about the past.

Shuja Haider’s music has powerful anthems which capture the spirit and passion of student life. The songs in the movie are uplifting as well as empowering and have hints of folk, rock, and festive melodies. They bring a naturalistic and wholesome atmosphere to the film which is enjoyable. The nationalistic song “Is Mulk Ko Rakhna Mere Bacho Sambhal Ke” ignites a sense of patriotism. Haider’s music is the bridge which helps audiences connect to the characters and visuals of the film. “Khel Khel Mein” explores the meaning of belonging to a place and guides the audience about how to return home if they are bound by the dictates of history. Through the laughter, joy, passion, and hardships experienced by a group of young people, the audience realizes that peace can be achieved through joint efforts.

Khel Khel Mein just made it officially to the Covid Comeback Movie of 2021 in Pakistan. With a Rs. 1 crore + hit at the box office, the makers deserve to sit back and enjoy the adulation that is pouring in as fans continue to share their elation at watching a project that did not disappoint! As audiences thronged to cinemas to catch a first glimpse of the project that is wooing back viewers, twitter was quick on the uptake and gave in its verdict soon after watching the first, or second day show – and this is what it tweeted!

Islamabad: After a long pause due to COVID-19 restrictions, the cinema activities were re-launched in the capital city with a dazzling star-studded premier of much awaited ‘Khel Khel Mein’, a movie that dares to clarify misconceptions and myths around the fall of Dhaka in 1971. The glittery red carpet and movie premiere was graced by the who’s who of the film, entertainment, and media industry in attendance.

The movie, with its trailer viral on social media, has already generated a much needed debate around 1971 events and its launch will definitely expose many unspoken aspects of one of the most tragic incidents of Pakistan’s history as the film not only communicates the sadness and pain linked to 1971 episode but also brings the role of India as conspirator and plotter of the division of Pakistan under the spotlight in an incredible way. ‘Khel Khel Mein’, with a stellar cast starring Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas and renowned director-producer duo, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza, is set to be released on November 19, 2021 by Filmwala Pictures, in cinemas across the country. The film has also introduced some young and incredible new talent in a two-hour long visual treat of brilliant art direction that is backed by impressive acting and a captivating story.

The plot of ‘Khel Khel Mein’ revolves around the air of mistrust after the fall of Dhaka. The film is a recap of the existing mind-set and curiosity around the subject, which is interestingly knit into a journey of students exploring the history and making history by doing what is not obvious and expected. Instead following the path of mutual respect, love and peace for all. ‘Khel Khel Mein’ features veteran actor Marina Khan, who is part of the cast, with Sajal Aly and Bilal Abbas as lead characters. The film also stars Sheheryar Munawar, while the cast also includes notable names such as Javed Sheikh, Manzar Sehbai, Nazar Hussain, Naveed Raza, Irfan Motiwala, Zehra Nawab, and Samina Ahmed. “We are really excited about release of the movie, though with a delay of two years due to COVID-19 restrictions. We believe that it has enhanced the excitement of viewers and this movie would be able to revive the cinema culture again,” said superstar Sajal Aly while talking to ‘The News’, looking as elegant and beautiful as always in blue ‘saree’. She was joined by the handsome Bilal Abbas at red carpet surrounded by fans from all age groups especially youth who were excited to find their favourite actors among them. “The movie gives message of peace and clarifies misunderstandings and it will sure attract a large number of audiences,” said Bilal while expressing hope that the movie would attract young audiences back in cinema after COVID-19.

“Making of this movie was an epic journey and we expect response more than our expectations,” commented ‘Khel Khel Mein’ Director Nabeel Qureshi, who has several prestigious awards under his belt and is known as one of the founding pioneers of independent films in Pakistan. “I will encourage people to come out and be in cinemas to watch the movie. We can watch movies on TV but it is no match to the cinema screen,” he added.

We reported earlier this month that Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza’s latest feature film Load Wedding – that stars Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat, Faiza Hassan and Samina Ahmed in key roles – is headed to China.

The film opened the Asian Film and TV week on May 17, 2019, in Guangzhou and was among the 5 films, chosen out of 60 entries, to open the festivals in different cities of China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an and Guangzhou.

“Load wedding opened the festival in Guangzhou and received extraordinary reception and praise,” producer Fizza told Instep in an exclusive conversation. “The cultural minister of Guangzhou and the heads of China film administration attended the event along with the Pakistani Consulate General in Guangzhou and many other dignitaries including the media. The film was subtitled in Chinese, the hall was full of laughter and anticipating what would happen next.” Fizza also informed the screening (on May 17) was followed by a Q & A session, which was full of admiration about the content and quality of the film. “We were told that Load Wedding is no less in quality in comparison with the films they import from different countries and people from China would love to experience more Pakistani cinema after watching Load Wedding.”

Director of Load Wedding, Nabeel Qureshi, shared that it was a great experience while the response was overwhelming. “Load Wedding was the only Pakistani film to be screened so we felt really good to represent Pakistan at such a huge event,” he expressed. The film revolves around the theme of dowry and an unhealthy obsession with marriage. “Dowry is prevalent in China as well. However, it is the other way around; the guy gives dowry there but the audience could relate to the concept.” “People in China don’t know much about Pakistani cinema and Pakistani culture,” Nabeel continued. “Such exchange of films is very important; it helps in learning about each other’s culture and people. I hope these events will create anticipation for Pakistani films among people of China, leading to further collaborations in future.” We also saw Nabeel and Fizza’s pictures with Aamir Khan floating over the internet while the two were in China to attend the event. Aamir Khan’s films Dangal and Taare Zameen Par were also screened during the festival.

When asked how the experience of meeting Bollywood’s Mr Perfectionist was and what his thoughts were on Pakistani cinema, Nabeel responded, “It was a pleasure meeting Aamir Khan. Though he didn’t say much about Pakistani cinema, he was very surprised to see Pakistan’s representation at the event. Whenever we speak of films in Asia, India comes to our mind as it has a huge cinema industry but we were also there with our film. He [Aamir Khan] asked about Load Wedding’s plot and told me he will watch our films online.” On a parting note, Nabeel spoke about cultural exchanges between Pakistan and India but, at the same time, he stressed that our focus should be on bettering our films first. “We are always open to such exchanges with India but when they come up with a ban or something, we also do the same in response. Since Narendra Modi has won the Indian election again, we shouldn’t have high hopes in terms of cultural exchanges. Let’s see what happens. Collaboration among artists is very important but we should focus on flourishing our cinema,” he concluded.

Load wedding is one of the Pakistani films that has gained an international attention. The film is said to be screened in China at the Asian Film and TV Week Festival in Guangzhou. This festival will be showing 60 films that have been selected from all over the world, and Pakistan was lucky enough to have its film be a part of the list. Load Wedding is a film which has Mehwish Hayat and Fahad Mustafa as their lead actors. The plot goes about a guy who wants to get married to his childhood love but cannot marry her unless his older sister gets married.

His older sister is constantly rejected for her weight and due to the delay in marriage, the girl rejects him too. The film is very interesting to watch and has a good humor.

Pakistani film ‘Load Wedding’ recently opened the Asian Film and TV Week, which was held simultaneously in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other cities of China. Director Nabeel Qureshi and producer Fizza Ali Meerza were present on the occasion. The duo also attended the festival’s launch ceremony which was hosted by Chinese premier Xi Jinping and attended by foreign dignitaries. Qureshi and Meerza got the chance to mingle with Iranian director Majid Majidi and Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, whose film ‘Taare Zameen Par’ was also screened at the festival.

The Asian Film and TV Week was part of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC), and aimed at increasing cultural and film exchanges between the Asian countries. According to reports, 60 feature films selected from 30 Asian countries were shown during the festival.

Another Pakistani film has waved our flag on an international platform. Load Wedding – which was recently screened at several film festivals – has bought global recognition by winning a special jury award for Best International Feature Film at the Rajasthan International Film Festival 2019 (RIFF). Directed by Nabeel Qureshi, the film previously bagged a nomination in the Best Film category at the Jaipur International Film Festival.

Load Wedding featured Mehwish Hayat and Fahad Mustafa in lead roles. The film received glowing reviews when it was released on Eidul Azha last year but clashed with JPNA2 and Parwaaz Hai Junoon. Though it wasn’t able to rake in the big bucks locally, it continues to win accolades internationally. With an aim to showcase the diversity in the world of entertainment around the globe, this film extravaganza in Rajasthan included documentaries, short films and feature films from all over the world.

This has been a great week for Pakistani cinema with three amazing movies launched on Eid 2018. I watched Parwaaz Hai Junoon last week and tonight watched Load Wedding in Calgary. Here is my Load Wedding review. I love that all three Pakistani movies released this Eid are different and this is a reflection that the cinema is maturing. While Parwaaz Hai Junoon is patriotic, and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 for laughs (I still have to watch it though), Load Wedding tackles important social issues and gives the audience great messages packaged in laughs.

Load Wedding is a story from a small town in Punjab and is authentic to the core in the language, clothes, locations and all small details. We see the life, challenges and aspirations of 95% of Pakistan. They might be poor but their lives are colorful and they have the same dreams as all of us. How easy it is to laugh at people clamoring for mobile phones on games shows on TV and how grounding it is to realize where they are coming from.

Load Wedding tackles important social issues such as dowry, the taboo of marrying a widow and what TV channels are willing to do for ratings. However, the writer does a great job of keeping the mood light with a peppering of jokes. For me the hero of the film was the hero’s friend who also provides the narration of the story.

Mehwish Hayat, as the lead actress has an important role and Samina Ahmed is my absolute favorite as the mother! Fahad Mustafa does an impressive job of taking on the role of a very Punjabi hero. The shots are beautifully done and show an authentic view of Punjab. Load Wedding is a different sort of entertainment since there are serious undertones and lots to think about. I just wish it didn’t drag a bit in the beginning but it picks up later. I hope such cinema helps change behavior and perceptions in Pakistan.

Pakistan film Load Wedding will be featuring at the Asia Film and TV Week festival in Guangzhou, China on May 17. The festival will be held from May 16 to 23 and a told of 60 selected films from 30 Asian countries will be shown in different Chinese cities. Load Wedding will also screen in Beijing on May 18 along with other popular films from the region including Dangal and Children of Heaven.

Fizza Ali Meerza, Producer of Load Wedding is representing Pakistan in China. The festival is also being attended by Aamir Khan from India and Majid Majidi from Iran.

Nabeel Qureshi, the director of Load Wedding is one greedy artist. In his films we never see a singular focus on a topic. A plethora of social issues are highlighted with Load Wedding too but it has been directed with such meticulousness that not at any point does the audience feel convoluted or lost. His attention to detail also helps a lot. For example when a teenage Raja (Fahad Mustafa) buys bangles for Meeru (Mehwish Hayat), he uses the old 5 rupees note or in the back story of Raja’s uncle (Noor ul Hasan) we see a Dentonic board. The team of Fahad Mustafa, Fizza Ali Meerza, and Nabeel Qureshi has delivered, a film which will make you laugh, cry and empathize with these very real characters.

The film starts on a sombre note. Raja, is moaning his broken heart as his friend and co-worker played by the brilliant Qaiser Piya, tries to console him with pulao. The trailer told us that Raja is waiting for Baby baji’s (Faiza Hasan) marriage before he could profess his love for Meeru. For Meeru, he is just a secret admirer.

Mohsin Abbas Haider, producer Fizza Ali Meerza, Javed Sheikh, director Nabeel Qureshi and Fahad Mustafa strike a pose at the Na Maloom Afraad 2 trailer launch in Karachi. The Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh and Mohsin Abbas Haider starrer is all set to be the most anticipated film of 2017.

Karachi: You know it’s not your average film cast and crew when they show up on time to their film’s promotional activities. Mohsin Abbas Haider sat in a corner, waiting for the press and media to turn up, Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali, masterminds behind Na Maloom Afraad and Actor in Law, were inconspicuously hanging around and Fahad Mustafa came to say hello as if he were just another ordinary person at the venue. This was how the trailer launch of Na Maloom Afraad 2 commenced at Nueplex on Wednesday.

Eventually, the media whipped up a frenzy and all the cast members got caught up in a whirlpool of selfies, TV interviews and red carpet pictures. However, for those of us who turned up on time, as given on the invitation card, there were a lot of moments of calm where one got to speak to all the brains behind Na Maloom Afraad 2. “Of course, there is a lot of pressure on me,” commented Qureshi at how he’s expected to be critically and commercially successful the third time round. “But pressure is good, it’s what keeps one motivated and driven.”

Haider was the first actor to arrive at the launch and we wondered how that happened. “I’m a punctual man and if I’m given a time, I usually arrive five to ten minutes beforehand. But that was the atmosphere of the film as well. Everyone was extremely professional and punctual.” Eventually the audience shifted inside the theatre, where the stars took turns to share their experiences. Here is what we learned: Marina Khan is all set to make her film debut with NMA2. “Parwaaz Hai Junoon was supposed to be my first film, since I signed it first, but NMA2 is releasing earlier so I guess this is my debut,” shared the veteran actress while also revealing that she will be playing the role of Hania Amir’s mother. Amir is the newest addition to the NMA clan and we couldn’t be more thrilled. She brings with her a youthful energy that fits perfectly with the rest of the NMA stars. “Pakistan’s film industry is reviving, we’re seeing a lot of films. But we want you to go watch NMA2 because it’s a good film, not because it’s Pakistani. We have to stop selling this sentiment now and start producing better quality films,” shared Mustafa in his usual honest and tongue in cheek style.

Na Maloom Afraad 2 Review: The sequel of Nabeel Qureshi’s Na Maloom Afraad is running successfully in cinemas and according to the filmmakers, their movie has collected 10 Crore in just five days on box office in Pakistan. Read our guest review below; The best part of Na Maloom Afraad 2 was brilliant acting by the lead cast Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, and Mohsin Abbas Haider and senior actors Nayyar Ijaz and Saleem Mairaj, who played negative roles. None of the female actors seemed impressive enough with Hania Amir being pretty mediocre and over-doing. Urwa Hocane and Marina Khan’s roles were easily forgotten once the movie ended.

Fahad Mustafa has once again proved that he is the best thing happened to Pakistani cinema since the revival. During last couple of years, he has done better than most of his competitors including Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed and even Fawad Khan. His screen appearance, his acting skills, facial expressions, body language and dialogue deliveries can easily be compared with any top rated actor in Bollywood. We can now proudly say that we have a hero material who has proved himself without crossing any borders. His performance has raised the bar to a level where it won’t be easy a ride for others.

When our film industry was struggling to gain its previous mark, some extraordinary pieces of work keep on backing the theater to revive with. Na Maloom Afraad 2, one of the most highly awaited movies of the year is now back with a bang with its thrilling trailer. Na Maloom Afraad 2 has all the chunks of an instant hit. With the same magical trio of Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, and Mohsin Abbas Haider, the movie has touched the new cons, and this time it’s Cape Town! The duo of Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza, the masterminds behind the Na Maloom Afraad and Actor in Law, bringing back their maestro creation to entertain cinema lovers. The comedy hit is set to be released on Eid-ul-Azha.

Na Maloom Afraad 2 are Back with a Bang When our film industry was struggling to gain its previous mark, some extraordinary pieces of work keep on backing the theater to revive with. Na Maloom Afraad 2, one of the most highly awaited movies of the year is now back with a bang with its thrilling trailer. Na Maloom Afraad 2 has all the chunks of an instant hit. With the same magical trio of Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, and Mohsin Abbas Haider, the movie has touched the new cons, and this time it’s Cape Town! The duo of Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza, the masterminds behind the Na Maloom Afraad and Actor in Law, bringing back their maestro creation to entertain cinema lovers. The comedy hit is set to be released on Eid-ul-Azha. The prelude of the series, starring Fahad Mustafa, Javed Sheikh, Mohsin Abbas Haider, Urwa Hocane, Kubra Khan and not to forget Mehwish’s special appearance in dance number ‘Billi’, released in 2014 and set a new trend for filmmakers in Pakistan to open up their cinema to more than just action-based movies. A Pakistani movie filled to the ridge with comedy, entertainment, humor, and masala, the goal to become rich nippily remains the same in the sequel. Venue and Hania Amir, possibly are the two major changes that can be observed simply. For the launch of its trailer, an event was arranged and attended by the star-spangled cast as well as some media personalities.

Once in my Film Studies class, we broke down and studied the essential mechanics for making a blockbuster in Bollywood and Lollywood. With the obvious element of mixing and matching borrowed techniques and plots, what emerged as a recurrent factor was the deconstruction of the genre known as the musical. Actor in Law, Nabeel Qureshi’s second feature film, does just that – it borrows, tailors, breaks out into song and dance, and ultimately produces a crowd pleaser. Note must be taken, however, that all stories are borrowed on some level. The art of imitation can produce masterpieces, if only it adds to the story more than it takes from it.

Qureshi’s debut film, Na Maloom Afraad was a testament to this art. It was evidently inspired by Priyadarshan’s Bollywood blockbuster Hera Pheri, and one could claim that some shots paralleled quintessential Bollywood camerawork. However, the film carried with it a sense of authenticity that came from a narrative entrenched in the city of Karachi. Actor in Law, in contrast, comes off a bit muddled due to the many, many grand narratives that it tries to touch upon. It tells a somewhat predictable story of a struggling actor who, facing utter despondency at the hands of his father’s constant disapproval, takes up the role of a lawyer in a courthouse. What follows is a lighthearted, entertaining journey with this actor/lawyer and his many attempts at doing good deeds through means that are largely illegal.

What really pulls the story together is the clever scriptwriting that, while overburdened with pathos, is sprinkled with hilarious pop culture references, quirky one-liners and many such quintessentially Pakistani narrative details. This is supported by a good acting ensemble, with Fahad Mustafa playing the lead character with all his passionate monologues and impressive comic delivery, Om Puri as the conventional father (who has never won a case in his life but is religiously insistent on earning an honest living), and Mehwish Hayat as the feisty leading lady and the protagonist’s love interest.

I had lost all hope in Pakistani cinema after watching Ho Mann Jahaan. The script of the movie, the acting, the direction and everything else was so poor that I couldn’t muster up the courage to watch another Pakistani movie for about one year. Listening to reviews of many other movies also made me skeptical about these films. But just when I was about to lose my faith in any renaissance of Pakistani cinema at hand, a friend told me to watch Actor in Law, saying that it was worth my 500 rupees. So last night we made a plan at the office to go watch the late night show at Luxus Grand cinema and thankfully, the movie really was worth the money.

Now don’t take me wrong here. It was nowhere near a perfect movie. In fact it wasn’t even superb. The idea was somewhat interesting but could have gone way off the mark had the execution not been as good as it was. First of all, full marks to Fahad Mustafa, Om Puri and Saleem Mairaj. The three of them were simply brilliant throughout the movie. Fahad didn’t put a foot wrong even where the director didn’t do his part well enough. The script was not just good, it was relatable as well. The arguments made by Fahad Mustafa in the cases he fought as a fake lawyer in the court were so general and funny at the same time that the hall, full to the capacity, at times literally went into fits of laughter. The story was well-executed and the music was just the right kind that would complement the story.

What I liked about the movie the most is the liberal outlook of the storyline. The way some of the key issues that our society faces were highlighted in the movie was commendable. For example, the minorities’ question, and the usual kneejerk reaction of the rightists that the minorities enjoyed all the rights in Pakistan, was nicely highlighted. However, I have serious disagreement with the way the woman harassment case was dealt with. I mean, how can you be so dismissive of the civil society’s role in highlighting this issue? It was literally impossible for a blogger and journalist like Mahwish Hayat to not find even a single girl in entire Pakistan who could go to the court and testify before the judge that she also faced sexual harassment. It was unfair to the women, I believe. But the message, however, was right. A common woman, who faces harassment at every point in life, doesn’t have the guts to call it out and that is why the menace is so prevalent in the society. But those were just minor issues. The real problem was with the way the movie was wrapped up after the interval. First, there were some serious flaws in the way the legal issues were dealt with. Lawyers were portrayed as a villainous community as not a single lawyer came forward to take up Shan Mirza’s (Fahad Mustafa) case despite the fact that his was a humanitarian cause. Moreover, the hiccups in the legal procedures became so big at times that they almost turned into malfunctions.

But even if you don’t look at it from the eyes of a strict legalist, the wrapping up of the movie didn’t do justice to the captivating first half. The case against Shan Mirza was made up well but afterwards, the way public rose in his favour looked a bit superficial since one girl uploading a video and Hamza Ali Abbasi sharing it doesn’t make such a huge difference. The buildup might have prolonged the movie by about 10-15 minutes but I believe that all the things would have fallen into place within that space and the film could have become much better as well as correct. Fahad Mustafa’s role seemed to be inspired by Shahrukh’s role in Om Shanti Om initially. At least two songs, Khudaya by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Dil Dancer by Atif Aslam, also seemed to be inspired from Om Shanti Om’s songs. Mahwish Hayat’s Meena Srewala was very much the Juggu of PK. But full marks to the actors who played the characters quite brilliantly. Overall, it was a great movie. The execution, as I said earlier, was excellent and the script clearly brought to the fore the hard work that its writers must have gone through. And to add to the beauty of it all, Mubasher Lucman, though not named, was literally lambasted in the movie. I simply loved that part. So if you’re looking to spend your 500 rupees on some good family entertainment then Actor in Law is surely worth your money. Actor in Law collections are going good and you can make them even better.

Actor in Law, starring Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat and Om Puri, tells us just that. Released on Eid ul Adha 2016, directed by Nabeel Qureshi and written by Fizza Ali Meerza, the film was funny and populist and upbeat yet held some important positive messages all at the same time. Packed with excellent performances and a well-rounded dialog, Actor in Law is a film you can go watch with your friends and family and be assured about having a good time for the next two hours. The film revolves around Shan Mirza (Fahad Mustafa) who is a struggling actor. The film takes digs at the entertainment industry and the silliness it is often surrounded by. Shan wants to be an actor, and Shan’s father, Shafqat Mirza (Om Puri) a lawyer, does not approve of Shan’s life choices. Meena (Mehwish Hayat) is a journalist for a TV channel and is a firecracker of a woman who doesn’t believe in sitting quietly when any kind of injustice is occurring anywhere.

Actor In Law (AIL) was a winsome experience at multiple levels. The film not only entertains you as per its own prowess, but also reminds you of how far we have come in terms of film-making in such tight period and resources. Surely there are many more miles to go, but the road travelled hasn’t been any short either, and that’s only counting it since the Khuda Kay Liye (KKL) days. AIL, unlike Na Maloom Afraad (NMA), or even Jawani Phir Nahi Aani (JPNA) for that matter wasn’t an outright comedy explosion, yes it has a large comic foundation: situational comedy mostly, but there is also a big social element to the film; underlying messages and subplots, and a sizeable portion of drama too. I would thus avoid drawing any parallels between the three.

Shaan Mirza (Fahad Mustafa) is a law college dropout and an aspiring, struggling actor in the family that has a lawyer patriarch, Rafaqat Mirza (Om Puri); not any successful one though, but someone who wears his honesty like a shining armour. After scores of unsuccessful auditions and chances for films and TV, Shaan finds a theatre where his talent is appreciated and his dreams of fame are realised. But life is the name of one gigantic roller-coaster and like every good one, this one has its own turns and twists. With an ease level of a hand in glove with his character, Fahad Mustafa outshone everyone in the film. Not only did he look good on-screen, but had the most befitting expressions whenever the camera focused him. And the dance steps, very well done. Om Puri as a stern and disappointed father was simply perfection personified, there isn’t one other actor I can think of who would have suited this character this well. Two biggest acting imports of Pakistan from across the border, Naseeruddin Shah (KKL and Zinda Bhaag) and Om Puri (AIL), and two excellent court scenes in their debuts, amazing. Mehwish Hayat plays and plays well a hotheaded Parsi journalist named, Meenu Screwvala. Meenu is telling this story as she knows it much more than anyone else and has her own ways of doing things. Mehwish has definitely raised her game with this character as it allowed her to be lot more than just a pretty face in the film, with its Parsi element; although a little underutilised, but hitting as a fresh addition to the usual lineup of characters in Pakistani films.

Nabeel Qureshi’s much-awaited new film, Actor in Law combines star power, solid performances and plenty of laughs this Eid. The movie lacks the rollicking comedic action of Qureshi’s acclaimed first film, Na Maloom Afraad but has the same blend of clever direction and native awareness.

Actor in Law tells the story of Shan Mirza (Fahad Mustafa), an aspiring actor who is a disappointment to his lawyer father (Om Puri). Thwarted in his acting career, he ends up impersonating a lawyer, using theatrics and over-the-top rhetoric in the courtroom while his father is away on Hajj.

He shoots to stardom when reporter Meenu (Mehwish Hayat) captures his courtroom speechifying on film and the two embark on a series of public interest litigations, picking up some powerful enemies on the way. The plot requires a certain suspension of belief; social injustices are painted with a broad brush and facile solutions indicate that this is the stuff of fantasy. The plot gives Qureshi ample room to pull in scenes about societal issues ranging from Eve-teasing to political slogans being painted on walls.

While the episodic nature of Shan’s cases allows for plenty of satire, the story fails to gather the suspense and momentum that would have taken the film from good to great. The movie is, however, full of ingenious visual gags and the scenes seamlessly segue from drama to comedy to romance, with the songs fitting naturally into the narrative. Atif Aslam’s Dil Ye Dancer Ho Gaya and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s Khudaya are both cleverly choreographed as is the title song, Actor in Law.

How does one follow up a movie like Na Maloom Afraad, which managed to combine genuine laughs with a deep understanding of Karachi and its unique culture? Director Nabeel Qureshi has given the answer in the form of Actor in Law, which doubles down on everything Na Maloom Afraad attempted, with slightly more mixed results. As with Na Maloom Afraad, Fahad Mustafa once again plays the lead. This time he stars as a struggling thespian (is there any other kind?), who stumbles into the legal profession of his father (Om Puri) and discovers that his acting talents translate perfectly into the courtroom. Needless to say, like any good Pakistani parent, Puri had disapproved of Mustafa’s occupation. Mustafa finds the fame which eluded him in his acting career after reporter Mehwish Hayat captures his skills on camera and introduces him to a wider audience. Realising he can use this new-found power for positive purposes, Mustafa teams up with Hayat to pursue a series of human rights cases.

Actor in Law plays out more like a series of vignettes than a movie with one plotline as the different cases the pair fight allows the director to explore just about every conceivable social and political issue, from the harassment of women in public places to the political wall-chalkings that dot the city and the enduring popularity of Altaf Hussain. And throughout, it manages to be very, very funny. If there is one problem with Actor in Law, it is that it is so packed with allusions that it sometimes disrupts the flow of the movie. Everyone from TV host Ayesha Sana of “bright karain” infamy to model and alleged money launderer, Ayaan Ali, is alluded to. What still makes it work is Qureshi’s obvious love for and knowledge of Karachi and his equally obvious anger at issues like corruption, child labour, the continued existence of patriarchy and sensationalism on TV. Qureshi handles all of this with a deft touch and is aided by an accomplished team of actors. Mustafa’s courtroom scenes allow him to mug for the camera but he is equally adept in the more subtle moments. His obvious chemistry with Hayat allows one to overlook her botched attempt to play a Parsi. Otherwise, Hayat brings an equal amount of passion and intensity to her role. The few other women characters littered in the movie have far less to do. Mustafa’s sister, for example, has no function other than to provide him tea. That, too, may be a reflection of our society but the lack of well-rounded women in the movie seems a tad jarring in a movie with a message.

The trailer for Batti Gul Meter Chalu, scheduled for release on September 21st, was recently released to acclaim. The film, helmed by the Toilet: Ek Prem Katha director Shree Narayan Singh, stars Shahid Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor alongside Divyendu Sharma and Yami Gautam.

The film’s theme is truly commendable, for this is perhaps the first Bollywood film dealing with the subject of electricity theft. The film is essentially an issue-based commentary on the subject of power theft and skyrocketing electricity bills in the mofussil areas of India. Shahid is a cheerful and carefree advocate, but his life changes completely when his friend (Sharma) commits suicide under the pressure of paying a hefty amount of Rs1.5 lakh as his electricity bill. From that moment, the sole purpose of his life is to seek justice for his friend.

The makers of Toilet: Ek Prem Katha have, it seems, ventured into another social issue faced by common Indians, largely because of the success of their previous film. Shahid is clearly following in the footsteps of Akshay Kumar, who has rightly received both commercial and critical success because of his films dealing with real and serious issues faced by India specifically. However, apart from Shahid’s presence and the grave issue the film is centred upon, another reason the film’s trailer has been in the news is due to some similarity with the 2016 Pakistani film Actor In Law, which was directed and produced by Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza respectively.

Actor In Law also highlighted the issue of load shedding in Pakistan in a particular courtroom session, with Fahad Mustafa playing a lawyer. As mentioned earlier, Batti Gul Meter Chalu reflects a similar subject, with Kapoor playing a lawyer. Overall, it is obvious how similar difficulties and issues have inundated common people on both sides of the border. Though fans were quick to notice the similarity, it was brought into the national conversation by Mehwish Hayat – who starred in Actor In Law – expressing that the trailer reminded her of her own film. Looking closely at both films, however, I must agree the similarity is quite evident. Both Kapoor and Mustafa play common men who fight against the system as lawyers in the courtroom, particularly regarding the electricity crisis. Hence, Hayat’s opinion has considerable ground when she says that both movies have presented their premise in a similar pattern.

Na Maloom Afraad is a story of three reckless poor struggling souls, running after their individual ambitions and desires, brought together by one incident which makes their not so simple life into a roller coaster ride of thrill, excitement, apprehension, romance and passion. A press show of Pakistani film ‘Na Maloom Afrad’ was held at Atrium Cinema, attended by the cream of the media industry that had turned up in large numbers to support Pakistani cinema. The cast and crew of the film were also available for photographs and questions and answers.

Opening the programme, GM Public Relations HUM Network Ltd, Shanaz Ramzi, announced that it gave HUM Network great pleasure to co-partner with Eveready to distribute the film across Pakistan, as the film marked the advent of a fresh face of Pakistani cinema, with films now being made produced by Karachi-based producers. Back in the sixties, Karachi had been witness to a similar phenomenon and cinema buffs had been given hits like Armaan and Heera Aur Pather from Karachi which people have not forgotten to date. She expressed the hope that the media would take on this project as their own and would support it wholeheartedly, as their contribution toward the growth of Pakistani cinema. The audience was then treated to a viewing of the film which was received with applause and appreciation. With HUM Films and Eveready as the official distributors of the movie, Na Maloom Afraad is directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza. The story of the movie revolves around three reckless poor struggling souls, running after their individual ambitions and desires, brought together by one incident which makes their not so simple life into a roller-coaster ride of thrill, excitement, apprehension, romance and passion. The three characters run around the chaotic city of Karachi, indulging in the craziest plan to save their love and life.

Speaking on the occasion, Director Nabeel Qureshi said, “With a strong storyline and stars like the versatile Fahad Mustafa, the evergreen Javed Sheikh and Mohsin Abbas who has a rock star image, Na Maloom Afraad is sure to play a huge part in reviving Pakistani cinema and bringing the audiences back to cinema halls across Pakistan.” Producer of the movie Fizza Ali Meerza said, “Na Maloom Afraad is the result of tireless efforts that our team put in to make a real entertainer and also open new vistas for socio-comedic movies in Pakistan. As you saw, it has all the right ingredients, emotions, thrill and comedy. Add to that a great cast and there is no reason why the film will not do well all the way within the cinema circuit. Only if local audiences support our films will our industry continue to grow as that is where our revenues come from. Thank you for coming today, and please encourage the public to come and see our product for themselves.” Aside from the director and producer of the movie, the cast and crew of the film including Javed Sheikh, Fahad Mustafa, Mohsin Abbas, Urwa Hocain, Satish Anand and Badar Ikram were called to the rostrum and each spoke for a couple of minutes about their filming experience . Na Maloom Afraad is a story of three reckless poor struggling souls, running after their individual ambitions and desires, brought together by one incident. Na Maloom Afraad is a story of three reckless poor struggling souls, running after their individual ambitions and desires, brought together by one incident which makes their not so simple life into a roller coaster ride of thrill, excitement, apprehension, romance and passion. A press show of Pakistani film ‘Na Maloom Afrad’ was held at Atrium Cinema, attended by the cream of the media industry that had turned up in large numbers to support Pakistani cinema. The cast and crew of the film were also available for photographs and questions and answers.

Opening the programme, GM Public Relations HUM Network Ltd, Shanaz Ramzi, announced that it gave HUM Network great pleasure to co-partner with Eveready to distribute the film across Pakistan, as the film marked the advent of a fresh face of Pakistani cinema, with films now being made produced by Karachi-based producers. Back in the sixties, Karachi had been witness to a similar phenomenon and cinema buffs had been given hits like Armaan and Heera Aur Pather from Karachi which people have not forgotten to date. She expressed the hope that the media would take on this project as their own and would support it wholeheartedly, as their contribution toward the growth of Pakistani cinema. The audience was then treated to a viewing of the film which was received with applause and appreciation. With HUM Films and Eveready as the official distributors of the movie, Na Maloom Afraad is directed by Nabeel Qureshi and produced by Fizza Ali Meerza. The story of the movie revolves around three reckless poor struggling souls, running after their individual ambitions and desires, brought together by one incident which makes their not so simple life into a roller-coaster ride of thrill, excitement, apprehension, romance and passion. The three characters run around the chaotic city of Karachi, indulging in the craziest plan to save their love and life.

With an unusually convincing line-up of actors, a catchy soundtrack (except for the perplexing lyrics to Mehwish Hayat’s dance number, Billi), interesting camera angles, a quick pace that doesn’t let the two-hour runtime drag, good direction, and tickets sold out even for the 10 am show on Eid day, Nabeel Qureshi’s directorial debut, Na Maloom Afraad, is a total winner.

A straightforward story, the film is about an unlikely trio — two hot-blooded young men (Fahad Mustafa and Mohsin Abbas Haider) and a stuttering, middle-aged simpleton (Javed Sheikh) — united by dire financial straits that has all three at their wits end. They decide to solve the problem by engineering a strike, setting on fire the bank where they have lockers and claiming insurance on the damages to become rich beyond their wildest dreams, knowing that they will never be caught and that three na maloom afraad (unidentifiable individuals) will be held responsible for the chaos. In their way is fate, but also the cigar-smoking, gold-jewellery adorned, slightly psychotic, mafia kingpin — Gogi bhai — played by Salman Shahid (a role he seems to have perfected to a tee, and similar in many ways to the one he took on in the recently released Pakistani film, Tamanna).

There is something satisfying about watching a film that is shot in your own backyard: The green and white minaret atop Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s mazaar, the towering Ocean Mall and the busy city centre of Saddar, are all easily identifiable in the film. This quality extends to the humour, too. Although at times slapstick and crude, the jokes are instantly relatable (based on local happenings in Pakistan), giving viewers the sense that they’ve been let it on a private joke. A great example is Mansoor (Haider)’s advice to the bank teller, Hina (Kubra Khan), that she should host her own morning show (after she gives one of her too-preachy monologues about how we should not judge criminals because poverty often forces people to compromise their morals). It is an amusing jibe at the countless morning shows that have blossomed on local television channels in recent years, with no end in sight.

Currently a host of one such extremely popular television programme, and a host of his own morning show in the past, Fahad Mustafa and his far less experienced co-star, Mohsin Abbas Haider, match the much more experienced Javed Sheikh, line for line. Watching Mustafa and Haider, as Farhan and Mansoor, berate Sheikh’s character, Shakeel bhai, over and over again, one could never guess that they are the fledgling newcomers and he, the skilled veteran. The special effects too are a credit to the makers, and the realistic fire scenes help the film come to life. The strikes in the film wonderfully depict the sense of chaos, danger and uncertainty rife in Pakistan today, with lawless protestors going about shattering windscreens and setting tyres ablaze.

What the film lacks, however, is something that elevates it from the ranks of a surprisingly, well-made film to one that is truly unforgettable, something that gives it an edge over others. In the words of John Mayer, “something’s missing, and I don’t know what it is.” Though I could hazard a guess: a more intelligent script and a more intriguing plot might have given this film that oomph factor. A thought-provoking plot that didn’t hand the entire story to viewers on a platter, but made them work just a little bit to understand what was going on, would have increased its appeal, but perhaps not for everyone. Some viewers might also be left with a slightly bitter after-taste because of the film’s highly questionable resolution: While there may be ample truth to the idea that good and evil are subjective, the film essentially suggests that there is nothing wrong with using the excuse of circumstance to justify one’s crimes, because it is not the individual but difficult circumstances that force people to commit theft.

The recently released Na Maloom Afraad could veritably be perceived as an insider’s roller-coaster ride through Karachi. Director Nabeel Qureshi is very obviously a Karachi-dweller — he traverses the city, even as he regales with the story of three hapless no-gooders scheming to make a quick buck. Not that the movie won’t appeal to audiences outside of Karachi. Laden with inside jokes, cityscapes and social commentary that simmers beneath, but never overwhelms, the main plot; Na Maloom Afraad packs in the punches with chutzpah, verve and piquant metropolitan angst.

And even as it skims the travails of poverty and zooms in on scenes of burning roads and violence, this movie refrains from being depressing, refreshingly remaining a comedy, twisting and turning its way to the happy ending. In a country hampered by poverty, load shedding and political instability, there are many who may resort to becoming na maloom afraad – as do the movie’s three protagonists. Fahad Mustafa plays Farhan, an insurance agent who is fired and needs cash so that he can marry his sweetheart Naina, endearingly enacted by Urwa Hocane.

Mohsin Abbas Haider is Moon, an ex-wedding band player who dreams of making it to Dubai even as he barely makes ends meet in Karachi. The two share a room rented out to them by Shakeel Bhai, played by Javed Sheikh, a befuddled government servant on the verge of retirement, desperate to gather enough funds to marry off his younger sister, Naina. Together, the three scheme to become part of the city’s Na Maloom Afraad, cashing in on the violence that inevitably springs up at times of unrest.

What unfolds is a madcap plot, replete with goons, guns, chases and umpteen spurts of hilarity. There are moments of sobriety when buses and cars are smashed and burnt in strikes and a criminal casually lights up his cigarette from burning tires on the road. On lighter notes, the news show on the city’s criminal activities is called Chori ke peeche kya hai and when Kubra Khan, playing a do-gooder banker, tearfully empathises with the plight of mobile-snatchers, a smitten Moon tells her that she should be a morning show host. A bearded prospective groom offers Naina non-alcoholic itar, Naina dreams of wearing jeans and going to 'Amreeka' and Salman Shahid’s villainous Gogi is accompanied by a troupe of confused hoodlums. There’s witty repartee, subtle quips against bhai log and plenty of one-liners. Holding the script together is a superbly talented ensemble caste.

They came, they conquered. Yes, we are talking about the Na Maloom Afraad who all are set to rock in a film we have been waiting for ages to come out. Why? Well obviously since it is the latest offering from the new-age cinema of Pakistan and also the first offering which can rightfully be called a proper film. Moreover now having seen the film we can claim that all the expectations we had are met and the film, despite being the debut film of the director Nabeel Qureshi, is by far one of the strongest films we have seen in recent times. Kudos to Nabeel Qureshi for making a film which has drama, comedy, romance, thrill and gives Pakistan its much needed entertainment.

Na Maloom Afraad has been promoted by the makers as ‘A Pakistani Entertainer’, and they succeeded in keeping their promise. The best thing about NMA is that it is a real film and not an ill cooked dish garnished with fresh mint and presented as a film. This comparison may not make sense, well most of ours films don’t make sense either! However, NMA does not only make sense but keeps you tied to your seat for the entire duration of the film. The film opens with a scene of two goons urinating against the wall and sharing details of a person (Mohsin Abbas) they are tasked to find when a dog snatches the only picture they have of him and runs away with one half of it. This chase takes the viewers on a roller coaster journey and honestly the mood of the film has been set from this very scene and you as a viewer are completely immersed in the film. This ride, lasts for the next two and half hours and is full of scenes you will remember and has some very engaging sequences and dialogues which you as a Pakistani will relate to very easily.

plans made by three reckless fellows Shakeel (Javed Sheikh), Farhan (Fahad Mustafa) and Moon (Mohsin Abbas) who have had more than their fare share of miseries. Shakeel has never done anything wrong in his entire life until he falls in a hopeless situation where he has no option but to be a part of the plans of his tenants Farhan and Moon who are done with living impecunious lives. Naina ( Urwa) is the love interest of Farhan and has nothing more to offer. (She is looking ravishing in Darbadar song). Hina (Kubra Khan) is there as a potential love interest for Moon but serves more towards the interesting plot twist at the end. Gogi (Salman Shahid) as the villain is a strong part of the story but we shall not reveal much as it will give away the story. As for Mehwish Hayat (Billi) well in addition to the rocking item number she also gave a little cameo appearance which was kind of confusing and pointless but her beauty made up for it. The strongest point of the film was having a coherent script which gave the director enough space to play with his creativity. Other than a few instances where the plot felt a bit complicated and the story a bit stretched the overall structure of the story is well crafted and all the characters are fixed aptly there. Dialogues are catchy and represent exactly how people of suburban Karachi or Lahore speak in such precarious situations.

Nabeel Qureshi, director of the film, puts his soul in the film and gave his best. The direction of the film is the one of the strongest departments of the film. Qureshi’s imagination and creativity is well shown in each and every shot of the film. Cinematography of the film is amazing and unprecedented in Pakistan’s cinema. It gives NMA a complete look and feel of a modern film.