The second half of 2015 has proved a promising period for Pakistani Urdu cinema. Six major films are released in July and August, and three of these have been successful still running in the cinemas.
The films released in July and August are
1- Bin Roye (Released on 18th July)
2- Wrong No. (Released on 18th July)
3- Karachi Se Lahore (Released on 31st July)
4- Moor (Released on 14th August)
5- Dekh Magar Pyar Se (Released on 14th August)
6- Shah (Released on 14th August)
Bin Roye, Wrong No. and Karachi Se Lahore are the successful films. Both Bin Roye and Wrong No. have revenue collections surpassing 10 crores PKR (100 million Pakistani Rupees), where Wrong No. is leading the race with a business of more than 14 crores. Bin Roye has collected about 11 crore. Karachi Se Lahore has so far collected more than 8 crores and is on its way to cross 10 crore benchmark.
The other three films Moor, Shah, Dekh Magar Pyar Se, though not as much successful have still managed to collect more than 1 crore, which shows the films received a satisfactory reception as majority of this amount is collected during the opening week. Especially DMPS despite being a huge disappointment collected more than 2 crores within two weeks.
The month of September has just started and a total of five major Urdu films are expected to release in this month too.
Swaarangi
Planned to be released on 28th August 2015, now the new release date is 11th September 2015. However the film is facing an uncertain future for its release as it has been denied a censor certificate by Central film censor board. The Punjab censor board has issued a censor certificate, while the position of Sindh censor board is not clear yet.
Cast: Resham, Ayub Khosa, Naveed Akbar, Waseem Manzoor, Hamza Mushtaq, Shahzaib Johar
Writer: Phida Hussain
Screenplay: Phida Hussain, Mazhar Abbas
Director: Phida Hussain
Producer: Mazhar Abbass
Studio: Flipping Images Productions, Phidahussain Productions
Manto
A much awaited film on the life of acclaimed Urdu writer Saadat Hassan Manto releasing on 11th September 2015. The film is in production for past three years. After its release a drama with the same story will also be tele-casted on Geo Tv.
Film: Manto
Cast: Sarmad Sultan, Sania Saeed, Saba Qamar, Mahira Khan, Nimra Bucha, Arjumand Raheem, Faisal Qureshi, Humayun Saeed, Hina Khawaja Bayat, Shamoon Abbasi, Nadia Afgan, Sawera Nadeem and others
Writer: Shahid Nadeem
Director: Sarmad Sultan Khoosat
Producer: Baber Javed
Distributor: Geo Films
Halla Gulla
Planned to be released on 28th August 2015, now the new release date is Eidul Azha (24th or 25th September 2015).
Starring: Javed Sheikh, Ismail Tara, Ghazala Javed, Asim Mehmood, Muneeb, Sidra Batool, Ashraf Khan ,Zara Gul Jasmeen Adil Wadia, Maryam Ansari, Hina Rizvi, Hunain Maniar, Bilal Yousufzai
Director & Screenplay: Kamran Akbar Khan
Writer: Raheela Mushtaq Shah
Producer: Hamid Mohammad
Designer: EDGE (Men)
Studio: MFN (VFX Director-1stop Studio)
& Social Media
DOP: Asif Khan
Editor: Nasir Inayat
Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani
Jawani Phirr Nahin Aani is releasing on Eidul Azha (24th or 25th September 2015)
Cast: Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Ahmed Ali Butt, Vasay Ch, Aisha Khan, Sarwat Gillani, Mehwish Hayat,Sohai Ali Abro, Javed Sheikh, Bushra Ansari, Saba Hameed, ZQ, Ismail Tara
Directed by: Nadeem Baig
Producers: Salman Iqbal, Humayun Saeed, Mohammad Jerjees Seja & Shahzad Nasib
Badal/Revenge of the Fallen
Scheduled to release in May, the film is now releasing on Eidul Azha (24th or 25th September 2015). The film is based on the real life events of 2009 insurgency in Swat.
Starring : Jamal Shah, Ayub Khoso, Firdaus Jamal, Shamyl Khan, Maira Khan and Emel Karakose ,Asif Shah, Asaldin Khan, Imran Tareen, Iram, Shehrbano, Abdur Raheem, Najeebullah Anjum,Tariq Jamal Arshad, Sultan, Kaleemullah, Qazi Zubair,Wafa Khan, Rafique and Marjan
Directed By: Jamal Shah
Cinematographer : Aamir Tehseen Rao
Written By: Jamal Shah
Screenplay By: Jamal Shah
Produced By: Amna Shah for Hunerkada Films
So these are the five films releasing in September 2015. No major film is scheduled to release in October 2015 as the holy month of Muharram falls in the same month and traditionally no new film is released in the first ten days of Muharram. In November 2015, few major Urdu films are also scheduled for release.
Maahe Meer
Scheduled to release on 6th November 2015. It is the first film of Iman Ali after Bol in 2011. Famous artist Sanam Saeed, Huma Nawab and few others will also make their debut.
Starring: Fahad Mustafa, Iman ali, Aly Khan, Sanam Saeed & Manzar Sehbai among others.
Directed by: Anjum Shahzad
Produced By: Khuram Rana, Sahir Rasheed, Badar Ikram
Ho Mann Jahan
Scheduled to release on Eidul Azha, now it is postponed to 27th November 2015 or 4th December 2015. The film is delayed to provide space to other films releasing on Eidul Azha.
Directed by: Asim Raza
Story by: Asim Raza
Screenplay by: Rashna Abidi, Imtisal Abbasi & Asim Raza
Dialogues by: Yasir Hussain & Asim Raza
Starring: Mahirah Hafeez Khan, Sonya Jehan, Sheheryar Munawar, Adeel Hussain, Bushra Ansari, Nimra Bucha, Arshad Mehmood and Munawar Siddiqui
Yalghaar
A mega budgeted action film.No final release date is announced yet, but the trailer released clearly says that it is releasing in 2015. However in a recent statement Shan its main protagonist has told the film will now release in February 2016.
Starring: Shaan Shahid, Humayun Saeed, Adnan Siddiqui, Asher Azeem Gill, Umair Jaswal, Naeem Haque, Gohar Rasheed, Bilal Ashraf, Owais Shiekh, Ahmad Taha Ghani, Wali Yousuf, Atiya Khan, Sana Bucha, Ayesha Omar, Aleeze Nasser, Armeena Rana Khan, Uzma Khan
Genre: War/Action/Thriller
Writer, Screenplay: Hassan Rana
Music by: Xulfi
Background Score : Xulfi
Directed by: Hassan Rana
Produced by: Asim Saleem Bajwa, Javeria Hassan Rana, Hassan Rana
Presented by: Mindworks Media Productions
Distributor: ARY Films
Rashid Nazir Ali