It is impossible to comment on films prior to their release but, apparently, Zinda bhaag promises to be a light hearted comedy. If it proves to be a good movie, nothing can revive Pakistani cinema quite like it. I say this because even though the DOP, lighting director and some of the other crew members came from abroad, our local technicians are polishing their skills at fast pace after the onslaught of DSLR’s and Chinese version of Sennheiser Mics and LED lights. Besides, if there is a reasonable story, drama, acting, comedy, music and other regular ingredients in Zinda Bhaag, and if accomplished competently, it would inspire a lot of Pakistani wannabe movie makers and sponsors.
Waar, on the other hand, is high on stars and special effects with gunship helicopters colliding head on and sniper bullets being chased by the camera for miles before hitting the target. It may very well catch the attention of filmmakers and film-goers if the movie proves to be a box office hit but not necessarily the financiers who could be bold enough to invest that kind of money in an iffy venture in these bad days of Pakistani cinema.
Money matters are the first consideration. A friend, Mazhar Zaidi, has produced Zinda Bhaag. Even if the financier is somebody else, I feel it is my friend Mazhar whose head is on the guillotine. It would pain me a lot if the film crashes though I would still live. If rumors are to be believed, Waar has a budget of way over 20 crores with a subject or a cause, if you will, which corporate sponsors will not risk getting into and neither would US AID and DFID would jump into to help. But anything can happen in the land of pure after the Imran Khan Campaign movie Chambeli.
If I let my ill-informed common sense to wander a little more, may I speculate that the film is fully sponsored by ISPR? Does it also mean that it is made from my tax money? In this case did anybody bother taking my approval before executing this brilliant idea? Hadn’t it been better if they had given this money to Shehbaz Sharif to make one more useless bridge on the way to one of his wife’s house?
There are numerous other queries but I have never bothered myself in unearthing the mystery of questions metaphysics hasn’t been able to answer. The dilemma here is that now that I know I’m one of the sponsors, is it my responsibility to make it do well at the box office? If all of us movie buffs watch the movie twice it would cost us Rs.700/- and the movie will do well but are we to consider this amount spent on entertainment or as a Value Added Tax on God knows what?
Khuda Kay Liye, though not a very good movie, in fact nearly a similar misadventure, did very well overseas. Foreign remittances always make us very happy. Even though I’m not sure of the story of Waar yet but since it revolves around young men and big brothers, one can suspect some probability of having a little anti india element to it. I am not too pro India though I like some of their movies and most of their music but Khuda Kay Liye did really well in India. Thus if they refuse to screen ‘Waar’ in their huge country, we stand to lose one very promising circuit. Apparently, the Pakistanis here and abroad will watch it and we will most probably recover the money but that will not recompense for the sense of achievement of having succeeded in the land of our ‘arch’ enemy.
An interesting thing to observe here is that the ISPR is craving for image building at this point in time. It is doing everything except for noticing PPP’s endeavors at endearing themselves to the Khakies by putting up fights on their behalf with anybody. If any Pipliya is invited to a TV show these days, people like Qamar Zaman Qaira to Faisal Raza Abidi and world’s first obese super hero Zamurd Khan are at the throats of other panelists within no time accusing them and CJ of being insensitive to the sacrifices of the soldiers even if the topic of the day is Milkshake vs Khoya Khajoor. Such indifference to this desperate display of bootlicking is indicative of the fact that the military has come of age despite their adventures in the unfamiliar terrain of sporadic movie making.
Just before signing out, a word or two about the Pakistani version of Chak De India so that it doesn’t feel left out. Even though it has been released I haven’t watched it yet. Main Shahid Afridi Hun might turn out to be more dissimilar from Chak De India besides the fact that one is on Hockey and the other on Cricket. I love surprises. But the eye opening remark came from Lala himself after he broke up with the producer of the film just before its release. Afridi narrated that when the producer came to him with the idea, he had agreed because he thought that it was going to be something patriotic (by this I presume he meant that he let him use the Shahid Afridi franchise for free). But later when he saw the rushes, he asked what was Mahnoor Baloch doing wearing a skirt? The producer replied that she was performing an item song. Afridi opposed it tooth and nail but the producer remained adamant. Afridi came on media, fuming, and declared that the item song in no way promoted patriotism and he will have nothing whatsoever to do with the film at all. I feel sorry for Lala but thank heavens that the item song stays because I know quite a lot of people, including myself, who will hit the theatre for the sake of watching Mahnoor dance in a skirt - or less.
The writer is based in Lahore and the lead singer of Beyghairat Brigade. He tweets @aliaftabsaeed
