Where should I start? The masterpiece Shoaib Mansoor has crafted or the message that hits so hard or the atmospheric music or the acting talents of Shan or the great screenplay or the amazing camera-work? For Pakistan this was more than a movie. It was a start of a revolution. It was a start of a movement. It signaled the rise of the moderates and the logics. From the first hint that started appearing on the net 3 years ago that Shoaib Mansoor is directing a movie to the teaser aired on TV to the actual movie, It has been an uphill task and has been achieved by the cast and crew outstandingly. I would not even think of comparing this movie to any other Pakistani movie as this one is light years ahead in every single department. Next most obvious choice would be to compare it to bollywood tish tosh. But really, you cant. This movie deals with hard hitting ground breaking realities rather than a carousel of perked up stars singing in the rain. I will be bold and optimistic enough to compare it to any good movie coming out of Europe or Hollywood. Agreeably, the movie has its weaknesses. Some acting and initial plot line almost made me think "Ok, nice try but couldn't cut it!". In comes the second half of the film and that scene with Naseer Uddin Shah at the court and everything changes. That scene will live down in history as the single most beautifully and researched written dialog Pakistan cinema has ever seen. A cinema hall filled to the brim clapping at every punch line delivered by Naseer Uddin Shah was a testament to the giganticness of the scene. The movie revolves around a Pakistani young man (Shaan) who goes to the United States of America for higher education. During his study years, the tragic event of 9/11 takes place where the World Trade Center is turned into dust. In a long array of investigations and arrests, the young man gets arrested by the American authorities; and his younger brother is being motivated by his old friend Shershah (Hameed Sheikh) on the path of God and to quit all musical activities in favor of the "straight" path. Meanwhile, his uncle (Humayun Kazmi) arrives from UK with his only cousin Mary (Iman Ali) who wanted to marry her non-Muslim boyfriend back in the UK against her family's wishes. He brings her to Pakistan where Shershah trucks them to their village in a tribal area near Afghanistan. They try to escape but Shershah follows her and brings her back to the village. The experiences of the young man are shown in this movie. There are plenty of other issues that are highlighted in this film. Iman Ali makes her cinema debut with this film, and enacts the character of a Pakistani-Briton. Shaan's wife is played by Austin Sayre whilst the young music prodigy Ahmed Jahanzeb along with Shuja Haider (composer of anti-terrorism song Yeh Hum Naheen) produced the soundtrack of the film. Acting overall is top-notch. Shaan has played probably the best acting role in his life. Along with him, Naseer Uddin Shah and Rasheed Naz were the preeminent actors. Fawad Khan and Iman Ali did their best with no experience in films. Hameed Sheikh was also fitting in his role. Austin Marie Sayre has a great career to look forward to.
The cinematography and the production level of the film is as good as any Hollywood flick. For once the movie editing is also on par. The only weak area was probably sound dubbing in certain scenes (especially the one in court with NGO ladies screaming). A whole different review can be written for the soundtrack of the movie. I will briefly describe it as the best soundtrack to any movie in Pakistan or India. Even this statement does not show any evidence of just how good and atmospheric the music is. The best way probably would be to have you listen to 'Allah Hoo' and 'Bandaya'. The two gems that pretty much justify every penny spent on buying the soundtrack. Then there is 'Mahi vay'. These tracks are so melodically haunting on their own, it is hard to imagine Shoaib can amplify the impact ten folds by synchronizing them pixel perfect to the visual treat. But he did. These songs will make your emotions flow and take a worm hole to another dimension in a cinema full of thousands of people.
As I mentioned at the start of this movie review, this is not merely a movie. It is impossible to express the impact of the movie with mere words. It is the thought it provokes, the courage by which it has been done, the un-biased ness of the movie that matters the most. How the storyline shows the good and bad of each side really leaves no argument for any side opposing it. Every aspect of the movie shows the truth which is hard to deny. The best experience of the movie did not appear on the screen, it appeared in the crowd sitting with me watching the movie. The standing ovation, the clap on every thousand ton argument made. It gave the viewers a chance to think, and to the thinkers a strength.
Hats off to Shoaib Mansoor for giving the gift of hope to the whole nation. The try alone would have made me give this movie a maximum rating. What has been achieved cannot be accredited by 5 stars. The rating should be something like 10 out of 5. Rather than reading this review, you should be investing your time in watching this movie right away at the cinema. Watching once, wont be enough. Watch it again and again.
Rating * * * * * 5/5
The cinematography and the production level of the film is as good as any Hollywood flick. For once the movie editing is also on par. The only weak area was probably sound dubbing in certain scenes (especially the one in court with NGO ladies screaming). A whole different review can be written for the soundtrack of the movie. I will briefly describe it as the best soundtrack to any movie in Pakistan or India. Even this statement does not show any evidence of just how good and atmospheric the music is. The best way probably would be to have you listen to 'Allah Hoo' and 'Bandaya'. The two gems that pretty much justify every penny spent on buying the soundtrack. Then there is 'Mahi vay'. These tracks are so melodically haunting on their own, it is hard to imagine Shoaib can amplify the impact ten folds by synchronizing them pixel perfect to the visual treat. But he did. These songs will make your emotions flow and take a worm hole to another dimension in a cinema full of thousands of people.
As I mentioned at the start of this movie review, this is not merely a movie. It is impossible to express the impact of the movie with mere words. It is the thought it provokes, the courage by which it has been done, the un-biased ness of the movie that matters the most. How the storyline shows the good and bad of each side really leaves no argument for any side opposing it. Every aspect of the movie shows the truth which is hard to deny. The best experience of the movie did not appear on the screen, it appeared in the crowd sitting with me watching the movie. The standing ovation, the clap on every thousand ton argument made. It gave the viewers a chance to think, and to the thinkers a strength.
Hats off to Shoaib Mansoor for giving the gift of hope to the whole nation. The try alone would have made me give this movie a maximum rating. What has been achieved cannot be accredited by 5 stars. The rating should be something like 10 out of 5. Rather than reading this review, you should be investing your time in watching this movie right away at the cinema. Watching once, wont be enough. Watch it again and again.
Rating * * * * * 5/5