Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: September 22, 2020 | 
| 中文
Nabeel Qureshi
As cinema halls across Pakistan reopen, screens are desperate for new and exciting content to attract audiences back. Demands for SOPs to be observed in theatres, directions for reduced occupancy, and the lag that the lockdown has caused in film productions, are all issues of concern for the producers, distributors, and exhibitors. For now, new films are on hold and will take time to be completed. Re-runs of Pakistani and Hollywood films are being considered as a possible strategy for pulling cinemagoers back to the theatre. Cinema owners are also anxious that increased reliance on platforms such as Netflix, Prime, and YouTube may have also reduced the appetite for cinema visits.
With over 160 cinemas across the country, a film has to be attractive enough to fill about 24,000 seats in each show, and the industry must reel out fresh and appealing content as soon as possible. The good news is that filmmakers Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza have announced that they will release two feature films in 2020 under their production house, Filmwala Pictures. The first local film to hit the theatres is likely to be, “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad” (Long Live Quaid-e-Azam), starring Fahad Mustafa and Mahira Khan.
Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza on the set of Load Wedding
Nabeel Qureshi’s impressive credentials as a director definitely add to the promise the film offers: he has made four commercial feature-length films to date, including NaMaloom Afraad (Unknown People) 1 and 2, Actor-in-Law, and Load Wedding. Nabeel has always been passionate about telling stories through the medium of films, and after initially working in the television industry, the next step was the celluloid. Nabeel spoke to Youlin about his journey as a film director, the direction of Pakistan’s film industry, and his upcoming release:
A: We were less nervous when our first film, NaMaloom Afraad 1, was about to release because we didn’t know what to expect. The industry was not as developed, so making a film and getting it released in theatres was an achievement. We were anxious, but not as much as for later films, because of the expectations [on them]. I think nervousness before the release of a film will always be there. One has to keep working hard and the level of nervousness also increases with each new release.
A: Absolutely! I am sure audiences are ready to come back to the cinemas because restaurants and parks are already full. Humans are social animals and they want to go out and have fun. If there is a good film in theatres, people will definitely turn up. I am sure if we offer them a good film, they will gladly return.
Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa behind the scenes of Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
A: I do have a team that I regularly work with because we have developed good chemistry and they always bring a different look and feel to my films. I wouldn’t say that I have always worked with the same set of actors, but Fahad Mustafa is a sure-fire choice for me. He is a very versatile and professional actor and has always delivered on what I wanted from him. I prefer to work with people who are as passionate as I am, although honestly there are a lot of good actors out there.
A: I have a problem with this term ‘Lollywood’. I think our industry should be referred to as the Pakistani Film Industry. There were good films in the sixties and seventies, but then Pakistani cinema disappeared and only regional films were being made, mostly in Punjabi. It has been tough for us to create a distinct identity for our cinema because we have all grown up watching films from across the border. Incidentally, our language is the same so no matter how hard we try to carve our unique identity, we will always be similar at some level. Similarly, our films also have song and dance routines, even in the sixties and seventies.
The Cast and Crew of Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
What is different about us, are stories that emerge from our own social set up. If I use my films as an example, NaMaloom Afrad was a quintessential Pakistani story about the issues of Karachi. In Actor in Law, the issues raised such as energy breakdowns or eve-teasing were relatable for all Pakistanis, and in Load Wedding, the issue of dowry was addressed. Ironically, when audiences see a good Pakistani film their immediate reaction is to compare it with Indian cinema.
A: In Pakistani films, I think “Khuda Key Liye” (For God’s Sake) by Shoaib Mansoor was really inspiring for me. It came out at a time when there weren’t any good films being made in Pakistan, and it was a fresh idea too. The way Shoaib sahib told it was brilliant. Also ‘Shah’ , an indie film by Adnan Sarwar, was very good.
A: Every director and filmmaker has a unique story to tell, and statements to make through their films. In a way, each film also documents its time and must highlight the issues of that era, besides being entertaining. I believe that films are effective when they successfully depict the era in which they are made. Every filmmaker has a social role to play, rather than just giving brainless entertainment as we have a very powerful and effective medium available to us. I am not saying that it is necessarily a bad thing if someone makes an entertaining film, but Filmwala Pictures definitely make an effort to offer some food for thought to the audience with each film.
‘Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’ is currently expected to release in December. According to Qureshi, the film has the same genre of social-comedy, as both NaMaloom Afrad and Actor-in-Law. Fahad plays a notorious cop in this action-comedy with a twist. The film will highlight the evils of materialism and the consequences of greed, with the name ‘Quaid-e-Azam’ used as a metaphorical reference to currency notes, with images of the founding father on them. Music for the film has been composed by Shani Arshad and includes tracks from Asrar Shah and Aima Baig.
The Film Poster for Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
Currently, Nabeel is working on Fatman, his second 2020 release, which would be a superhero film as well as a web series that is currently under production. For now, audiences will have to wait in anticipation for “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad’, until cinemas gradually open later in the year.
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