A Filmy Year Ahead

Jeewan Hathi is a dark comedy that will mark the big screen debut of Hina Dilpazeer

As we enter the last quarter of 2016, Instep lists a slew of future films to look out for.

As this story is being written, Bollywood films have been banned at local cinema houses until further notice. This is a repercussion of the ban placed on Pakistani artists by the IMPPA in India earlier this month. This scenario has therefore made room for past films to return to the big screen. So, look out for Manto, Moor, Shah and Dukhtar, four films that truly represent the new face of Pakistani cinema, in the coming days ahead. Their return (at select theatres) will give those who haven't managed to catch a show (due to obscure placement) an opportunity to see them again.

In a recent conversation with Instep, Sulaiman Lalani, Head of Geo Films revealed that the conversation about the return of films like Moor, Manto, Dukhtar with Cinepax is certainly taking place.

"We're coordinating with the producers of the movies to bring them back to cinemas," he told Instep. "They (cinema owners) are also interested in showing Bol and Khuda Kay Liye but their screening is not confirmed yet due to technical reasons."

While this plan will go on for the next couple of weeks, a slew of upcoming films also hold immense promise.

Hashim Nadeem's Abdullah: The Final Witness, which features Imran Abbas and Sadia Khan in lead roles, is slated to release later this month. Set to make its mark on October 21, the film is based on the incident that claimed the lives of five Russian citizens at the Kharotabad check post in Quetta. The film's biggest asset will be Hameed Sheikh, who after Moor has made a permanent room in our hearts. Veteran actor Sajid Hasan is also featured in this film.

The month of November will be much more significant for local cinema as four distinctly different films are slated to release. Chief among them is Jeewan Hathi, the second film from Zinda Bhaag duo of Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur. Releasing on November 4, the film is a dark comedy that will tackle the issue of media's despicable obsession with ratings. With an all-star ensemble cast that includes the likes of Bollywood veteran Naseeruddin Shah and Pakistan's very own Hina Dilpazeer and Adnan Jaffar, it definitely looks promising.

Aside from Jeewan Hathi, other films that are gearing up for release include Wajahat Rauf's Lahore Se Aagey (sequel to Karachi Se Lahore) and Mehreen Jabbar's Dobara Phir Se. It must also be mentioned here that select screenings of Karachi Se Lahore and Bin Roye have begun as the films have made their way back to (select) theatres.

While Lahore Se Aagey, releasing on November 11, stars Yasir Hussain and Saba Qamar in lead roles and is playing around with the theme of music, Mehreen Jabbar's Dobara Phir Se is a slice of life kind of effort. The latter also has a comprehensive cast that includes actors Adeel Hussain, Hareem Farooq, Ali Kazmi, Sanam Saeed, Shaz Khan and Atiqa Odho in pivotal roles and comes out on November 25. Both Dobara Phir Se and Lahore Se Aagey have a contemporary edge that seems to be missing from some of the other films that are slated to release. 

In addition, Shah Rukh Khan wannabe Sahir Lodhi is also coming in a film. The project is called Raasta and is directed, written by Lodhi who also holds the lead role. Others who have dared to join him in this inexplicable venture are names like Aijaz Aslam, Shamoon Abbas and one Mathira, who will appear in one of the songs.

Shahzad Rafique's biographical film, Salute starring Ali Mohtesham, Ajab Gul and Saima Noor comes out in December and is centered on the story of Aitzaz Hasan, the brave schoolboy who saved 2000 lives by confronting a suicide bomber from attempting to blow up his school.

—Originally published by The News