List of Upcoming Pakistani Movies - Page 8

Remaining 10% will be divided between Bin Roye, Brothers, Wrong No, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Man from UNCLE and MI: 5. PHOTOS: PUBLICITY

It is difficult to remember a time when Pakistani cinema owners were spoilt for choice. The 2015 Independence day not only marks the country's 68th birthday but also the first time in almost 40 years that three local films " Dekh Magar Pyaar Say, Shah and Moor " would be releasing simultaneously.

But unlike previous holiday weekends, of Eid, none of these movies are bound to leave a dent at the local box; but can be a real tour de force' when combined.

Given that there will be a total of 11 movies, the upcoming holiday weekend has a Royal Rumble-esque sense to it with movies of all genres competing against each other.

With cinemas still reeling from the Eidul Fitr hangover as previously released Pakistani films " Wrong No, Bin Roye and Karachi Se Lahore " still churning out decent numbers, exhibitors will be in a real fix regarding scheduling.

Single-screen and multiplex cinema owners have already termed Dekh Magar Pyaar Say as the movie-to-beat but the film faces an uphill task if it is to come out on top.

Exhibitors have also shown a desire to promote local content over Bollywood, such as the Akshay Kumar-starrer Brothers, which they thought was unlikely to have the same impact as Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Here are our box office predictions:

Dekh Magar Pyaar Say: the favourite

No of Screens: More than 70

According to several exhibitors, the movie has all the ingredients to lure audiences. Already, multiplexes and single-screen cinemas across Pakistan, have shown a readiness to screen the movie.

Director Capri Cinema Farrukh Rauf, expressed his confidence over the film and said, "If the film performs as per expectations than the three-day gross for the long weekend is expected to touch around Rs2 million at Capri only."

Primarily shot in Lahore, audiences in Punjab are more likely to relate to the movie and with more screens in the region, it is expected to generate a lot of revenue from Punjab. Khorem Goltasab, the general manager of Super Cinemas in Lahore, believes that despite getting many things right, the movie's performance in multiplexes is expected to be better than in single screens.

"The movie would do great because it already has a large female fan following. Also people want to watch light (comedy) films, they don't want to see serious dramas," Goltasab told The Express Tribune.

Shah: the dark horse

No of Screens: 30 cinema sites (Approximately 60 screens)

Until the release of the movie's trailer not many people knew about the film, but the film's journey shares a lot of similarities to its rags-to-riches plot and has enough potential to do an upset at the box-office.

Given its swift rise through the ranks cinema owners believe that the movie would benefit greatly from the "patriotic factor". Exhibitors and distributors feel that the story of the movie is such that it can "unite the audiences under the flag of the nation."

Despite this, the general belief is that the movie is going to generate a major share of its earnings from multiplexes rather than single-screen cinemas.

Moor: slow and steady

No of Screens: 25 cinema sites
(45 plus screens)

Of all the movies to release this year none have had the kind of hype like more that of Moor. But it has been delayed for so long that all of the excitement and buzz seems to have toned down.

According to Nadeem Mandviwalla, the producer of Moor, they would not be aiming the movie at all audiences due to its serious content. "It is serious cinema and might not do so well in single-screen locations," he told The Express Tribune.

Made on a budget of approximately Rs50 million, the movie (like all other Pakistani releases) would bank heavily on word-of-mouth. He added that, "None of the movies that are being screened right now are exceptional in terms of face value, but if they do well, they will gradually pick up in terms of business through positive word of mouth."

Verdict:

With previous movie releases " both local and international " still performing impressively, it is very unlikely that any of these movies will do exceptional business but collectively we might be in for a record-breaking weekend.

the film clearly avoids cliches usually inherited by Pakistani films from Bollywood. PHOTO: PUBLICITY

Wahidullah, the station master of Khost railway station reluctantly agrees to sell off the railway infrastructure due to political pressure and promised financial benefits. But as his son Ahsanullah Khan (Shaz Khan) moves to Karachi, he finds himself entwined in the dilemma of not letting go of what is inherently his (the railways) and embracing the hope of a better tomorrow. The simple yet thoughtful execution of this conflict makes it dark-to-the-core but apparently an ethereally white story " a dense emotional experience. The rest of the film is an engaging collection of non-linear sub-plots that meet for a definite purpose while enticing you with enough twists and turns to keep you fastened to your seats. Surprise! You have the first ever complete Pakistani film of the year.

It was evident from the baffled response to Operation 021 that Jami has a habit of over-complicating things. He does not refrain from that in Moor " as a result, it might take you some time and talking to fellow cinemagoers to decipher the connection of subsequent deaths in the first half. And those deaths are significant theme elements, as well as imperative to the plot detail, so a little clarity would have helped convey the foundation of the film.

However, the deep understanding of the social issue, coupled by powerful performances make up for the complications as the film progresses. Hameed Sheikhs journey from complete sanity to neurosis is not only reflected through his swift aging post-crises, but also the subtle brilliance with which his mannerisms become more timid with time.

Shaz Khan adapts the Pushtoon accent fluently and effortlessly while maintaining his composure "almost comparable to a dead volcano " whenever he did erupt on screen, you knew from within all your being that he means business. Abdul Qadir as Baggu Baba turns out to be the highlight of the film.

Bagoo generally preserves a very goofy attitude towards things but doesn't let the viewer confuse him for a clown. He, in many ways represents the true essence of a native, one who would kill or get killed for his soil. The most exceptional part of Qadir's portrayal of Bagoo is that he actually serves as the moral compass of the story but never asserts it. Kudos to Jami for crafting such unique characters and more so, directing them in a way that they get their fair share of impact.

Stylistically speaking, there are plenty of beauty shots in the film " offering the Pushtoon belt of Balochistan as a possible tourist spot for the rest of the world. But the shots do get a tad more claustrophobic in the interior scenes of Muslim Baagh. It could have been intentional, but a little more breathing space would have emphasised the attention-to-detail in the art direction.

The soundtrack of the film when listened to in isolation seems something out of the Strings' Coke Studio but provides a spine-chilling experience when teamed with snowcapped mountains. Gul Bashri by Rahim Shah in particular, hits you like a cold breeze cuts through your muffler on a dark winter night " it's haunting but hopeful. The often wall-to-wall use of the score, however, does get a bit vexing at times.

All in all, Jami manages to pull off the impossible with Moor. He grants us a true Pakistani film sans being pretentious or preachy and makes the much rural and suburban concept of love for your motherland' moving for urban audiences. This breathtaking emotional journey not only highlights the lost livelihood in Balochistan but also gives us hope that Pakistani cinema will not only be taken as an extension of Bollywood. Way to go, team Moor!

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2015.