Since the revival of the Pakistani film industry began – arguably with Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Ke Liye in 2007 – Pakistani cinema-goers have seen many locally produced movies worthy of being released internationally, given the quality of their production. Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Ke Liye and Bol (2011) were two critically-acclaimed movies that were also well-received by the general public. The hallmark of Shoaib Mansoor’s productions was social instruction – both of his movies attempted to get an important point across to its audiences.
Then there were films like Waar (2013) and O21 (2014), with their edgy action, drama and mystery that was reminiscent of Hollywood thrillers. And then, there were humourous flicks like Jalaibi (2015) and Na Maloom Afraad (2014), and the sports drama Main Shahid Afridi Hoon (2013), which were more commercial in nature than their predecessors.
In this “renovation” of Pakistani cinema, the old, classic touch that was exclusive to Lollywood was a casualty – a casualty that must have been missed by many. With Bin Roye, traditionalists can expect to see that lost Pakistani-ness return to cinema screens.
What the Movie is about
Bin Roye is a romantic drama film based on the Urdu novel, Bin Roye Aansu by Farhat Ishtiaq. The movie stars Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed and Armeena Rana Khan in the lead roles, while veterans like Zeba Bakhtiar and Javed Sheikh would also appear in key roles. Directed by Shahzad Kashmiri and Momina Duraid, the movie promises to show a typical Pakistani life on the big screen: elaborate wedding ceremonies, traditional dances and mannerisms exclusive to the people of Pakistan.
If the movie’s producers manage to deliver what they have promised, the new generation of Pakistani movie-watchers can, for a change, expect to see something that neither looks like a social lecture, nor like a Hollywood movie with Pakistani faces, nor a wannabe Bollywood commercial crowd-pleaser. Instead, Pakistani cinema-goers can expect a movie that has all the goodness of our own classics, with a reflection of our own culture, norms and traditions – and international film-watchers can expect to see the brighter, controversy-less, colourful side of Pakistan.
But the question is: will the movie makers be able to deliver what they promise?
Mahira Khan
Would Bin Roye Live Up to the Expectations?
This, undoubtedly, is the most important question, since it’s easy to make promises but very hard to keep them. For Bin Roye to be executed to perfection, a lot relies on its lead characters: and the movie’s producers could not have done a better job than casting Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed in the leading roles. While Mahira Khan is Pakistani drama enthusiasts’ darling – and making her place in Bollywood, too – Humayun Saeed is a seasoned actor who has previously appeared in multiple movies and dramas before. Should the chemistry between the two work its charm, Bin Roye’s directors can expect to have much of their heavy investment paid off with interest.
A lot also depends on the movie’s cinematography. If there’s something that the recent revival of Pakistani cinema has given Pakistani cinema-goers a taste of, its quality cinematography. Waar is an exceptional example of cinematographic prowess that directors like Bilal Lashari have introduced to Lollywood. Due to movies like these, Pakistani cinema-goers’ expectations have increased manifold. So, Bin Roye’s producers would have to make sure that their movie does not only have good actors, but also a pleasant look to it – their audience is expecting it.
However, unlike their competitors, Bin Roye’s production team must also excel in another department: music. Nobody expected films like Bol and Waar to have a good soundtrack, because they were not the type that relied on songs. Bin Roye, on the other hand, promises lavish weddings and traditional dances, which would backfire if the movie’s soundtrack is not up to the mark.
Let’s hope the producers would be able to nail all of these crucial elements and provide a breath-taking cinematographic experience that would brighten up Pakistanis’ Eid festivities come July 18.
