With no major Urdu film release since Eid-ul-Fitr for the first time ever in the country's history, a cloak of despondency has set over our film industry. The shutting down of two major cinema halls recently in Karachi has aggravated this depression.
But now, there seems to be a silver lining to the dark clouds on the horizon. A preview of Salakhain scheduled for release on August 13, has recharged the batteries of the cinema buffs that were among the fortunate few to witness it.
It is after a long time that a Pakistani film boasts what is sorely lacking in most local movies - an interesting storyline, a coherent sequence of events and brilliant print. Add to these basic essential ingredients, glamour and impressive packaging, and presentation, and one has a film not likely to be forgotten for a long time to come.
While the makers of Salakhain have done well to draw on talent from across the border for the filming of its songs, one hopes that others will follow the lead taken by them in making a film that stands out for its overall production quality.
The film revolves round the life of Faizan, (Ahmad) the only child of lower middle-class parents (Deeba and Farooq Zamir) whose main objective in life is to give him a sound education so as to ensure a bright future for all of them. Faizan spends his time between wooing the girl next door, Savera (Zara Sheikh), and preparing for his college exams. However, his first paper becomes the turning point in his life, for Faizan becomes a target of one of the two major political mafias controlling the city's examination centres and police force. He is thrown in jail (thus the name of the movie) on the trumped-up charge of cheating, while his father dies of shock and his mother loses her sanity.
In prison, Faizan is befriended by Zargam (Saud) who is a member of the rival party of political thugs, master-minded by Shah Murad (Shafi Mohammed). They escape and Faizan joins the underworld, wreaking vengeance on those who turned his world upside down. He asks Savera to part ways with him and she subsequently marries her cousin (Sami Khan). Meanwhile, Natasha (Meera) who also works for Shah Murad, falls for Faizan. To find out what happens in the end, you have to watch the film.
The acting is superb, with even the usually unbearable Saud presenting a pleasant picture. Zara tends to overact slightly, specially in the opening scenes, but later improves considerably. However, all the other characters have done justice to their roles, including model-turned-actor Ahmed who makes his debut in tinsel town with this film. It may be added here that his voice has been dubbed (by Faisal Qureshi) so skilfully that one can't detect it at any point in the film. Sajid Hassan, as Gibran, Faizan's arch enemy, also deserves particular mention. It seems that the jinx on our television stars, who have found it difficult in the past to make a breakthrough on the silver screen (Shakeel, Zia Mohyuddin and Atiqa Odho, to name a few) is finally broken as the bulk of the main cast hails from the TV network.
An action-oriented film, there are mercifully only a couple of bloody scenes in Salakhain, with most of the action revolving around stunts and chases. By and large, they've been done convincingly. The only really far-fetched scene being in which Faizan and Natasha are six feet away from their enemies, who are firing at them point blank, but they still manage to escape unscathed. Oh, and one mustn't forget the scene where Faizan runs out of bullets, so everyone (read the enemy) indulges in a fistfight instead of using firearms.
By the same token, there are some specially well-directed scenes, such as the one depicting the death of the father. The asylum sequences have also been realistically portrayed, which is a relief, for such segments generally tend to be handled ludicrously. It is to the credit of the director, Shahzad Rafique, that the film, in spite of dwelling on morbid and highly pertinent social issues, comes through on the whole as an entertaining one. Perhaps, the fact that the producers of the film are not mere financiers but directors of calibre in their own right - Rashid Khawaja and Khalil Rana - has given it the edge that most of our films lack.
Although all the locales are mostly local - effort was made to go to challenging and breathtaking terrains such as Kargil, Khunjrab and Hunza, not to mention the deserts of Cholistan - they present such a picturesque and spectacular backdrop that one wonders why people bother with going abroad for shoots. All the songs have been beautifully picturized - particularly the theme number - and slickly choreographed. However, in spite of the fact that renowned singers such as Sonu Nigam and Abrar have lent their voices to the ditties in the film, none of the songs are exceptional, other than the theme song.
The costumes designed by Khawar Riaz are both appropriate for the scenes and pleasing to the eye. However, while Zara's make-up is skillfully done, Meera's leaves a lot to be desired, for the lass can definitely look better than she does in most of the sequences. But that does not deter her from some highly scintillating performances. In fact, Salakhain is quite bold in that there are some very sensual scenes picturized on both the leading ladies, although they have been admittedly executed with finesse. Again, the argument that there should be a rating system devised for our films cannot be stressed enough. The digital sound system and polished cinematography with exceptional frames enhance the enjoyment of watching the film, making it definitely one to look out for.
But with all its positive features, I feel that the real strength of Salakhain lies in the fact that it has dealt with a poignant subject in a very responsible manner. Films are powerful tools that can bring about social change, but in the last couple of decades they had either stopped bothering with this important role altogether or been sending disastrously wrong messages - like it is all right to kill as long as one is seeking revenge. It remains to be seen how this film is received by audiences, but this reviewer is of the opinion that after a very long time - Yeh Dil Aap Ka Hua notwithstanding - a film has been made that has the necessary ingredients to ensure success. So, if you haven't braved a local flick in a long time, this is one you should check out.
