Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: July 04, 2022 | 
| 中文
Films to be released on Eid ul Azha 2022
With Eid ul Azha just around the corner, Pakistani cinema is buzzing with anticipation as three big films are set to release on the same weekend. An Eid associated with family celebration and cooking of a lot of meat, evenings are a perfect time for a family get away to a cool entertainment venue like a cinema house. Luckily the lineup of three films is looking promising, with all three boasting of rich doses of melodrama, comedy, romance and good music; ingredients that never fail to draw audiences to theatres.
London Nahi Jaunga (LNJ) has the most bankable stars of the Pakistani cinema: Humayun Saeed, Mehwish Hayat, and Kubra Khan in the lead. They are supported by an equally illustrious lineup, which includes Asif Raza Mir, Gohar Rasheed, Saba Faisal, Saba Hameed, Sohail Ahmed and last but not the least, Vasay Chaudhry as the antagonist. The film promises to be a full-on adventure, romance, comedy, and masala mix with a script written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar. Executed by Nadeem Baig, the most successful director of Pakistani cinema in recent years, the film has been produced by Salman Iqbal, Humayun Saeed, Jerjees Seja, and Shahzad Nasib. LNJ is the story of Sara (Mehwish Hayat) who leaves her life of the metropolitan city of London in exchange for tracing her roots that bring her to Pakistan. As luck would have it, while discovering some uneasy secrets of her past life, she bumps into Chaudary Jameel, played by Humayun Saeed, and they are both struck by Cupid.
London Nahi Jaunga poster
While Jameel is vocal and forthcoming, Sara has a lot to process before she can confess her true feelings. She returns to London but leaves her heart behind. We will have to watch LNJ in cinema to know how Chaudhry Jameel, who is engaged to be married to another equally charming girl, played by Kubra Khan, manages to woo his true love while also convincing his family. The film has a lot of promise: stunning local and foreign locales, Mehwish and Humayun’s chemistry, melodramatic family conflict, action sequences, horse riding hero sweeping his paramour off her feet, wedding and festivity, and the best song and dance routines that Pakistani cinema can offer. All in all, LNJ looks like a perfect heart-warmer for this Eid.
Gohar Rasheed, Hamayun Saeed, Saba Faisal, Sohail Ahmed and Kubra Khan in LNJ
If an actor-director team could give Humayun-Nadeem Baig duo a run for their money, its none other than the pairing of another actor-director: that of Fahad Mustafa and Nabeel Qureshi. Add to that the first-time on-screen pairing of the irrepressible energy and acting skills of Fahad Mustafa with the ever-ethereal beauty of Mahira Khan, top it with a generous dose of action, humor, drama and poignant social and political commentary and you have another sure hit at hand. This is what Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad is looking like right now.
Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
This action-packed presentation has Fahad Mustafa as a dare-devil cop, and Mahira matching his action with equal aplomb. In Quaid-e-Azam there is a loaded reference to ill-gotten wealth through fraud, bribery and unlawful use of power. Quaid's picture is also shown as a symbol of our nation’s moral compass as Fahad’s character is seen holding the society accountable while staring at it. The dialogue of his character, ‘Jaantey ho noton pey Quaid e Azam ki tasveer kyun hai?’ , (Do you know why do notes have a picture of Quaid e Azam) leaves an unanswered question for the viewers, one that we all should ask when making decisions that impact our individual and collective lives as citizens and as a nation.
But like all Nabeel Qureshi films, this one also has superlative action, drama and glamour to package a social message with full command. Fahad looks dapper with a moustache, biceps, and aviators complementing his already abundant swag. Add to that, Mahira’s allure as his leading lady, and an equally capable supporting cast of Javed Shiekh, Mehmood Aslam, Qavi Khan, Nayyar Ejaz and Saleem Meraj, and we have reason enough to que up at the ticket counter for Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad. If still not convinced, watch the world class VFX, explosions, bikeflying and airplane fights on display in the trailer, and you will know that this one is not to be missed. The film will simultaneously release in UAE, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Fahad Mustafa in Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad
Lafangey breaks the boundaries of genres that have been employed by the local cinema makers. ‘Lafangey’ is a horror-comedy with a twist set against the backdrop of modern-day Karachi. It is a story of four desperate youngsters, out to prove their worth, dare to spend a night at a house notorious for being haunted. What follows is a roller coaster ride of spookiness, hilarity, and nail-biting suspense. The film has been produced by Tariq Habib Rind, written and directed by Abdull Khaaliq Khan and co-written by Jahangir Hussain and JK Reddy. Produced as a labor of love, it is not a big-budget film like the other two releases listed above, but what it lacks in terms of production cost, it aims to make up in its entertainment value.
Inspired by a Bengali play, the film has a cast that includes Sami Khan, Nazish Jehangir, Saleem Meraj, Salman Saqib alias Mani, Mubeen Gabol, Behroze Sabzwari, Gul e Rana, and Ismail Tara. Lafangey also has veteran actors like Late Sohail Asghar and Late Rasheed Naz, who passed away during the making of the film. With a promise of strong special effects, also on display in its trailer, Lafangey has all the credentials of being a trend setter.
Poster of Lafangey
With abundant masala to spice up the Meaty Eid, these three Pakistani films releasing on this festive occasion are already looking good, and have on offer something for everyone’s taste. We hope for a more successful and prosperous future for the Pakistani film industry.
The main cast of Lafangey. (R to L) Salman Saqib alias Mani, Saleem Meeraj, Sami Khan and Mubeen Gabol
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