Where Do We Go from Here

Salakhain - The only Urdu film in 2004 which did good business at the box-office.

This has been the worst period for the film industry. Scriptwriters like Nasir Adeeb and Jaffar Arsh have been rehashing old plots. Shaan proved that he has more potential as a director than actor with film like Mujhey Chand Chahye, but the actor has stuck to making acting his first priority as a profession.The new millennium has seen a gush of information technology and films have ceased to be the only source of entertainment. Though Pakistani film industry has already been on its way out, the fact that it has failed to keep pace with the changes in technology, taste and mindsets has further slashed its chances of making a comeback. The cine goers in Pakistan have shrunk to only a certain segment of the society, which is broadly described as single-urban-illiterate-male. Pakistan is producing 50 plus films a year in Punjabi, Urdu and Pushto but it is hard to find a recently released film worth a mention - Aijaz Gul

Reviews of Films

2002

Ishtahari (Synopsis & Review) - This film tries to recapture the magic of old smash hit Kalay Chore but fails in terms of script, performances, music, choreography, and direction as compared to its enduring predecessor

Manila key Jasoos (Synopsis & Review) - Hindu bashing formula didn't work this time!

Yeh Dil Aapka Hoa (Synopsis & Review) - One of the most expensive Pakistani films ever made boasting Indian singers Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy and choreographer Saroj Khan

Buddha Gujjar (Synopsis & Review) - Typical 'formula' film filled with gore, violence and one slight change - the protagonist dies instead of getting married and living happily thereafter

2003

Laaj (Synopsis & Review) - Historical film set in the spring of 1936 has its moments but the writer-director Rauf Khalid attempts to fit in too many clichés and is unable to ever make the sum of the parts gel.

Larki Punjaban (Synopsis & Review) - Story of a Sikh girl, Preetam who falls in love with Muslim, Shamyl Khan, when visiting Lahore.

Pyaar Hi Pyaar Mein (Synopsis & Review) - Ordinary love triangle with a few interesting twists and further sub-angles

Yeh Wada Raha (Synopsis & Review) - Box-office dud - Poor script, lack of romance (Zara Shaikh vs. Shan) and poor musical score were major reasons for its failure

2004

Salakhain (Synopsis & Review) - Another Lollywood extravaganza that was supposed to turn the fast failing fortunes of Lollywood around, but despite all the hype that surrounded its release, Salakhain was eye candy that failed to stimulate otherwise

Budha Bigra Jaey (Synopsis & Review) - Badly scripted film with cheesy jokes, sleazy connotations, and one-dimensional characters ... This film will leave a bad taste in your mouth

Hum Eik Hain (Synopsis & Review) - Syed Noor's controversial 786 that was renamed Hum Eik Hain, is nothing to write home about and is politically, socially and culturally incorrect

2005

Aik Gunah Aur (Synopsis & Review) - Box-office dud - Both Meera and Veena are dressed scantily and perform in many explicit scenes but such overt display has a dual effect as women then boycott the film and naturally any film that cannot bring women to the cinema halls shall meet with failure.

Kyun Tum Say Itna Pyar Hey (Synopsis & Review) - A film without vulgarity is a breath fresh air. The script has fair share of depth and it is made even more intense by the presence of stalwarts like Nadeem and Talat Hussain

Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (Synopsis & Review) - Reema has surprisingly showed a fresh approach in her directorial debut, Koi Tujh Sa Kahan and excelled in most of the departments. Koi Tujh Sa Kahan is not only better than the usual fare being produced in Pakistan but it is an attempt in the right direction for Lollywood

2006

Pehla Pehla Pyar (Synopsis & Review) - Another misdirected attempt at film-making and the abrupt conclusion confirms that the director was in a rush to wrap things up.

Majajan (Synopsis & Review) - Shaan plays Zille Shah, an unhappily married man belonging to the revered Syed clan who falls in love with a courtesan, Taari (Saima), when she performs in his village. His wife (Madiha Shah) and family straightaway condemn the budding relationship, thereby leading to a conflict...


	\|Home\| Salakhain - The only Urdu film in 2004 which did good business at the box-office. This has been the worst period for the film industry. Scriptwriters like Nasir Adeeb and Jaffar Arsh have been rehashing old plots. Shaan proved that he has more potential as a director than actor with film like Mujhey Chand Chahye, but the actor has stuck to making acting his first priority as a profession.The new millennium has seen a gush of information technology and films have ceased to be the only source of entertainment. Though Pakistani film industry has already been on its way out, the fact that it has failed to keep pace with the changes in technology, taste and mindsets has further slashed its chances of making a comeback. The cine goers in Pakistan have shrunk to only a certain segment of the society, which is broadly described as single-urban-illiterate-male. Pakistan is producing 50 plus films a year in Punjabi, Urdu and Pushto but it is hard to find a recently released film worth a mention - Aijaz Gul Reviews of Films 2002 Ishtahari (Synopsis & Review) - This film tries to recapture the magic of old smash hit Kalay Chore but fails in terms of script, performances, music, choreography, and direction as compared to its enduring predecessor Manila key Jasoos (Synopsis & Review) - Hindu bashing formula didn't work this time! Yeh Dil Aapka Hoa (Synopsis & Review) - One of the most expensive Pakistani films ever made boasting Indian singers Sonu Nigam, Kumar Sanu and Kavita Krishnamurthy and choreographer Saroj Khan Buddha Gujjar (Synopsis & Review) - Typical 'formula' film filled with gore, violence and one slight change - the protagonist dies instead of getting married and living happily thereafter 2003 Laaj (Synopsis & Review) - Historical film set in the spring of 1936 has its moments but the writer-director Rauf Khalid attempts to fit in too many clichés and is unable to ever make the sum of the parts gel. Larki Punjaban (Synopsis & Review) - Story of a Sikh girl, Preetam who falls in love with Muslim, Shamyl Khan, when visiting Lahore. Pyaar Hi Pyaar Mein (Synopsis & Review) - Ordinary love triangle with a few interesting twists and further sub-angles Yeh Wada Raha (Synopsis & Review) - Box-office dud - Poor script, lack of romance (Zara Shaikh vs. Shan) and poor musical score were major reasons for its failure 2004 Salakhain (Synopsis & Review) - Another Lollywood extravaganza that was supposed to turn the fast failing fortunes of Lollywood around, but despite all the hype that surrounded its release, Salakhain was eye candy that failed to stimulate otherwise Budha Bigra Jaey (Synopsis & Review) - Badly scripted film with cheesy jokes, sleazy connotations, and one-dimensional characters ... This film will leave a bad taste in your mouth Hum Eik Hain (Synopsis & Review) - Syed Noor's controversial 786 that was renamed Hum Eik Hain, is nothing to write home about and is politically, socially and culturally incorrect 2005 Aik Gunah Aur (Synopsis & Review) - Box-office dud - Both Meera and Veena are dressed scantily and perform in many explicit scenes but such overt display has a dual effect as women then boycott the film and naturally any film that cannot bring women to the cinema halls shall meet with failure. Kyun Tum Say Itna Pyar Hey (Synopsis & Review) - A film without vulgarity is a breath fresh air. The script has fair share of depth and it is made even more intense by the presence of stalwarts like Nadeem and Talat Hussain Koi Tujh Sa Kahan (Synopsis & Review) - Reema has surprisingly showed a fresh approach in her directorial debut, Koi Tujh Sa Kahan and excelled in most of the departments. Koi Tujh Sa Kahan is not only better than the usual fare being produced in Pakistan but it is an attempt in the right direction for Lollywood 2006 Pehla Pehla Pyar (Synopsis & Review) - Another misdirected attempt at film-making and the abrupt conclusion confirms that the director was in a rush to wrap things up. Majajan (Synopsis & Review) - Shaan plays Zille Shah, an unhappily married man belonging to the revered Syed clan who falls in love with a courtesan, Taari (Saima), when she performs in his village. His wife (Madiha Shah) and family straightaway condemn the budding relationship, thereby leading to a conflict...