The first four months (Jan – Apr) of the year 2016 have passed which proved rather dismal when it comes to the number of Urdu films released. There has been only five major Urdu films released till April 2016
January – Ho Mann Jahan (1st January)
February – Bachaana (26 February 2016)
March – Fiker Not (11 March 2016)
April – Maalik (8 April 2016), Hijrat (22 April 2016)
Ho Mann Jahan earned nearly 21 crore (16 crore in Pakistan and 5 crore in the rest of the world), while Bachaana earned around 9 – 10 crore. Maalik (8 April 2016) earned around 4 crore before being banned after running for three weeks. Hijrat (22 April 2016) has proved dead flop and earned less than 1 crore in its opening week.
One major reason for such low numbers of releases was two back to back cricket tournaments. In February 2016, the first edition of Pakistan Super League was organized which was followed by the Cricket T20 World Cup in March 2016. Due to these cricketing events, release of few films was postponed.
This article lists the Urdu films announced to be released in May 2016. Due to the Holy month of Ramazan no film is releasing in June-2016 and thus after May, new Urdu films will be released in July on the festive occasion of Eidul Fitr.
Mahe Mir(ماہ میر)
Release Date: 6 May 2016
Mah-e-Mir is a film based which draws the contrast in life and the ‘Ka’laam’ of poet Meer Taqi Meer with another young and struggling poet.
The highlight of Mahe Mir is the script of Sarmad Sehbai. Iman Ali is appearing in a film after a gap of five years, where Bol in 2011 was her last film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwMN_EV_fJM
Release Date: 6 May 2016
Starring: Iman Ali, Fahad Mustafa, Sanam Saeed, Ally Khan, Huma Nawab & Manzar Sehbai
Directed By: Anjum Shahzad, Sarmad Sehbai
Written By: Sarmad Sehbai
Production House: Mirqasam films
Produced By: Khurram Rasheed, Sahir Rasheed, Badar Ikram
Distributor: Hum Films
Hotal (ہوٹل)
Release Date: 13 May 2016
Hotal (ہوٹل) is a Hindi/Urdu film which is under production from past two years. Last year it was screened in New Delhi film festival in New Delhi, India where it also bagged an award.
Hotal was due to release on 1st April 2016 but it was postponed after the tragic Gulshane Iqbal Park terrorist attacks in Lahore. It can be considered as a comeback film for filmstar Meera. Her last major appearance was in film Ishq Khuda in 2013, though she also appeared in a cameo in the film Dekh Magar Pyar Se in 2015. Hotal is now releasing on the 13th May 2015.
Hotal also features an item song Maum Bati shot on Morrocan artist Wiam Dahmani. Now it is releasing on 13 May 2016.
Starring: Meera, Khalid Hassan Khan
Written and Directed by: Khalid Hassan Khan
Produced by: Firdose Anjum Aabroo
Aksbandh (عکس بندھ)
Release Date: 20 May 2016
Aksbandh (عکس بندھ) is a horror film and is claimed to be the first ‘Found Footage‘ film of Pakistan. Traditionally horror films are not a popular genre in Pakistan and even Bollywood horror films struggle at Pakistani box office.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p08B0KMWwnM
Starring: Ayaz Samoo, Saud Imtiaz, Danial Afzal,Bilal Yousufzai, Shehzeen Rahat, Mahrukh Rizvi and Arshad Ali
Written By: Ayaz Samoo and Emraan Hussain
Directed by: Emraan Hussain
Produced by: Naveed Arshad, Seemeen Naveed, Ayaz Samoo and Emran Hussain
Production House: Cinematic Media, Big Idea Entertainment
Distributor: Hum Films
Release Date: 20 May 2016
Rashid Nazir Ali
