The festive occassion of Eidul Azha is coming on Tuesday 13th September 2016 where three holidays are announced by the federal government. Such long holiday season provides a favorable window for film business.
Any such long holidays like Eidul Fitr, Eidul Azha, Christmas, Independence Day come with the screening of some big banner movies. Among all such long holidays; in recent times Eidul Azha has emerged as the most successful time of the year for Pakistani cinema.
From 2013, the most successful Urdu film of the year was released on Eidul Azha. The main factor can be the absence of a big banner Bollywood movie. On Eidul Fitr normally a Khan starrer big banner Bollywood film is released which takes the lion share of screen shows and business thus reducing the chances of any local film. So it makes Eidul Azha more special for local film makers and viewers.
From 2013, Eidul Azha holidays have seen massive business by local releases. In 2013 Waar earned almost 23 crore and became the most successful Urdu film of all times. In 2014 Namaloom Afraad released on Eidul Azha earned 12 – 13 crore and became the most successful film of the year. In 2015, Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani smashed all previous records of business by any Urdu or Punjabi film. JPNA earned more than 35 crore and became the most successful film ever produced in Pakistan.
This year a total of three Urdu films are releasing produced and distributed by big media houses. On regional cinema four Pashto and two Punjabi film is expected to be released.
Though no Bollywood film is releasing on Eid day on 13th September 2016, still a Bollywood film Baar Baar Dekho releasing on 9th September 2016 is expected to compete local Urdu films releasing on Eid in terms of screens and business at multiplexes.
So lets go through the films releasing on Eidul Azha
Urdu Films
Urdu is the national language of our country and is a mode of communication among all ethnicity and regions. It is the fifth largest spoken language in Pakistan after Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Seraiki. In recent times Urdu cinema is gradually claiming its lost glory. This Eidul Azha three Urdu films are releasing. All these three films are of different genre and type providing ample choice to viewers to pick a film of their taste.
Janaan (جانان)
Janaan (جانان) is considered as the biggest film coming on Eid as it is distributed by ARY Films which to date is the most successful distributor of Urdu films. ARY films has distributed some most successful films of the recent times like Waar (2013), Teen Bahadur (2015), Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani (2015), Ho Mann Jahan (2016).
Lots of factors have contributed towards ever raising expectations from this film. Famous anchor person Reham Khan and artist Hareem Farooq are the co-producer for this film. It is also one of the very few main stream Urdu films which is based on a Pakhtoon family and is not a terrorism based film. The film is produced in Islamabad and shot on scenic locations of Swat valley.
All the three lead artists of the films are appearing first time in a leading role in a Pakistani film. The three main characters of this film are Meena (Armeena Rana Khan), Asfandyar (Bilal Ashraf) and Daniyal (Ali Rehman Khan).
Bilal Ashraf has played a small role in the film O21 (2014), Ali Rehman Khan has done a secondary role in film Slackistan earlier. Armeena Rana Khan appeared as second heroine in the film Bin Roye (2015). So it will be first time for all three artists to appear in the lead roles.
The title track of this film is in the voice of famous Indian singer Armaan Malik. It also features a Pashto song.
Cast: Armeena Rana Khan, Ali Rehman, Bilal Ashraf, Mishi Khan, Ajab Gul, Nayyar Ejaz, Hania Aamir, Usman Muktar, DJ Panni & Jalal Haider.
Release Date: 13th September 2016
Genre: Romantic comedy
Directed By: Azfar Jafri
Written By: Usman Khalid Butt
Produced by: Reham Khan, Hareem Farooq, Munir Hussain & Imran Raza Kazmi
DOP: Rana Kamran
Production Company: IRK Films in association with Munir Hussain Films, PEPE’S PIRI PIRI Group
Distributor: ARY Films
Music By: Salim Suleman, Ahmad Ali & Taha Malik
Post Production: Kantana Post Production (Thailand)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanaanOfficial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBAZkttoMsE
Actor In Law (ایکٹر ان لاء)
Actor In Law is the second film from the team behind Namaloom Afraad which was the most successful film of 2014. Namaloom Afraad was also released on Eidul Azha in 2014.
The team of Nabeel Qureshi (director), Fizza Ali Meerza (producer), Mehwish Hayat (cameo) and Fahad Mustafa (lead artist) who were in Namaloom Afraad will be seen again in this film. Like Namaloom Afraad it is also produced and shot in Karachi.
Actor In Law has Fahad Mustafa in the lead role and is paired with Mehwish Hayat. Mehwish Hayat also played a cameo appearance in Namaloom Afraad in the item song of Billi. Another highlight of Actor In Law is the presence of acclaimed Indian artist Om Puri in a major supporting role.
The film features songs in the voices of some most popular voices like Asrar, Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.
Actor In Law is backed by the media house Urdu 1. It is the first film distributed by Urdu1 films. The film is produced and shot in Karachi.
Film: Actor In Law
Cast:Fahad Mustafa,Mehwish Hayat,Alyy Khan,Om Puri,Saboor Ali,Irfan Motiwala,Rehan Sheikh,Lubna Aslam,Saleem Mairaj,Saife Hassan,Rashid Khawaja
Release Date:13th September 2016
Genre: Socio-comedy
Written by:Fizza Ali Meerza
Directed by:Nabeel Qureshi
Produced by:Fizza Ali Meerza, Mehdi Ali
Music by:Shani Arshad
Cinematography:Rana Kamran
Production company: Filmwala Pictures
Distributed by: Urdu 1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actorinlawthefilm/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a673oahgJLU
Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (زندگی کتنی حسین ہے)
Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (زندگی کتنی حسین ہے) is the third major film of Eidul Azha.Backed by Geo Films perhaps the largest media house of our country. In past Geo Films has distributed some acclaimed as well as successful films like Manto (2015), Moor (2015), Bol (2011), Ramchand Pakistani (2008).
Produced and shot in Karachi it stars Sajal Ali and Feroze Khan in the lead roles. It is the debut film for both of these. Both Sajal and Feroze have been paired earlier in famous dramas like Chupp Raho and Gule Raana.
It is an intense love story of a young married couple facing troubles in their relationship.
The soundtrack of the film is composed by Soch band.
Film: Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai (زندگی کتنی حسین ہے)
Cast: Sajal Aly, Feroze Khan, Alyy Khan, Rashid Farooqi, Nayyar Ejaz, Shafqat Cheema and Jibrayl Ahmed Rajput
Genre: Family Drama – Romance
Release Date: 13th September 2016
Music: Soch
Director: Anjum Shahzad
Written by: Abdul Khaaliq Khan
Executive Producer: Jahanzaib Quadir
Producer: Rafiq Ahmed Chaudhry, Fahmeeda Abdul Khaliq
Production House: RC Films, King fisher films
Distributor: Geo Films
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZKHHthefilm/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5UhHhwhehc
Pashto Films
Pashto is the second largest spoken language of our country after Punjabi. Unlike Urdu and Punjabi cinema which were completely faded by the end of 2000, Pashto cinema has maintained its viewership and business. Pashto films have their own dedicated circuit where these perform relatively well. Peshawar city is the main hub of Pashto cinema, however majority of Pashto films are mostly produced in Lahore as the studios and laboratories for film processing are located in Lahore. Apart from Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Mardan, Swat, Noshehra also have connsiderable viewership of Pashto films. Shahid Khan, Jahangir Jani, Arbaz Khan are the famous heroes of Pashto cinema of current era.
This Eidul Azha a total of four Pashto films are releasing. Though the trailers of these films are available online here mostly their posters are added
Ghulam (غلام)
Cast: Arbaz Khan, Jahangir Jani & others
Directed by: Shahid Usman
Produced by: Zahoor Abbass & Afreen Paree.
Badmashi Ba Maney (بدمعاشی نہ منے)
Cast: Shahid Khan & Sheeba Rani & others
Director: Arshad KhaN
Badmashi Na Manam (بدمعاشی نہ منم)
Cast: Arbaz Khan, Jahangir Jani,Babrik Shah & others
Directed by: Saeed Tehkle
Produced by: Nadir Khan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri0UCddrjQQ
Za Pagal Yam (زہ پاگل یم)
Cast: Shahid Khan & others
Directed by: Syed Muntazir Shah
Produced by: Habib Khan
Punjabi Films
Punjabi is the largest spoken language of our country and once Punjabi cinema was the backbone of Pakistani film industry. The popularity of Punjabi cinema has been over now. Very few Punjabi films are produced now and those few even struggle at the box office. This Eidul Azha two Punjabi films are releasing
Best of Luck (بیسٹ آف لک)
Best of Luck (بیسٹ آف لک) is a small budgeted Punjabi film produced in Lahore. This film is only releasing in the Punjab circuit . It is the first film of Nisha Malik who committed suicide few days ago in Lahore.
Film: Best of Luck (بیسٹ آف لک)
Cast: Zara malik , Mian Asif, Nisha Malik, Raheela Agha, Zahid Qureshi & others
Genre: Action – Romance
Release Date: 13th September 2016
Music: Zulfiqar Ali Atray
Director: A.Hafeez
Written by: A. Hafeez
Producer: Zain Hafeez
Lal Badshah (لال بادشاہ)
Film: Lal Badshah (لال بادشاہ)
Cast: Shaan, Khushboo, Shafqat Cheema& others
Director: Shahid Rana
So these are the films coming on Eidul Azha 2016. The good thing is all the three main Urdu films are of total different genre and subject so hopefully everyone can choose the movie of their taste.
Keep supporting Pakistani cinema.
Trailer of Urdu films courtesy of PakistaniCinema Fan page channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAgBFzV3J4hrbRMcBcsehvg
https://www.facebook.com/PakistaniCinema
Rashid Nazir Ali