This year saw the release of notable films including the highly-anticipated spy-thriller Operation 021 and the crime-caper comedy Na Maloom Afraad. We also saw directors venture into newer and unexplored genres with movies like drama-thriller Dukhtar, political-drama The System and neo-noir Tamanna.
2015 holds the possibility of releases of notable films like Moor, Yalghaar, Downward Dog and Jalaibee but apart from that there is not much on the calendar really.
We bring you the run down on the best that Pakistani cinema had to offer in 2014 and await your vote to decide who is best among our nominees of Tribune Cinema Awards.
If you think that your favourite performance has not been nominated, do leave us a comment. The category for ‘best actor in a lead role – female’ has been axed due to a lack of powerful female lead characters in films that were released this year.
Best Film
Na Maloom Afraad for all its tongue-in-cheek humour captured the life of every Pakistani trying to make it big in a city as volatile as Karachi.
Operation 021 is Pakistan’s attempt at an espionage thriller and turned out to be the most technically sound Pakistani film to date.
Watch a trailer of the films here:
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Best Director
Nabeel Qureshi’s Na Maloom Afraad despite being overzealous with Bollywood, the film was a great example of how to execute an ideal Masala film.
PHOTO: PUBLICITY
Jami Mahmood ventured into an unsafe territory by directing Pakistan’s first spy-thriller and did an admirable job.
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Best Actor (Male)
Ayub Khoso as the one-eyed yet far-sighted Afghanistani rebel Abdullah in Operation 021.
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Fahad Mustafa as the down on luck, salesman of IFU Insurance Farhan in Na Maloom Afraad.
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Best Supporting Actor (Male)
Mohsin Abbas Haider plays the Romeo-esque daydreamer Moon seeking to find a living in Dubai in Na Maloom Afraad.
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Mohib Mirza is a driver, Sohail who helps escort the mother-daughter duo of Allah Rakhi and Zainab to safety in Dukhtar.
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Shaan Shahid does what he does best, fighting off terrorists while trying to forget his troubled past as agent Kash.
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Hameed Sheikh as calm yet complicated double agent Dost in Operation 021.
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Best Supporting Actor (Female)
Urwa Hocane plays the girl next door Naina, who is desperate to marry her tenant in Na Maloom Afraad.
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Aamina Sheikh was Shaan’s love interest in the 2013 spy thriller and does well with her short yet significant screen presence.
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Best Actor in a Negative Role
Shamoon Abbasi, or Pakistan’s premier bad guy, was impressive as CIA’s Pakistani agent Danish in Operation 021.
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Adnan Shah Tipu for his ferocious portrayal of Ghorzang Khan, a local tribeman who forces the parents of a young girl into marriage in Dukhtar.
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Salman Shahid is the no-mercy and no-nonsense godfather Gogi, of an otherwise idiosyncratic gang in Na Maloom Afraad.
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Best Cameo Appearance
Nayyar Ejaz plays the insurance agent Samuel, who catches up with the scam being concocted by the principal characters in Na Maloom Afraad.
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Nayyer Ejaz makes yet another powerful cameo in Operation 021 and provides Shaan with a way out of the mess he is embroiled into not before mincing a few lines about treading the right path.
Saleem Mairaj, the marvelous theater actor is drug addict Abdul Qadeer, who delivers the three troublemakers of Na Maloom Afraad a lecture in bomb making 101.
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Best Debut
Mohsin Abbas Haider
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Urwa Hocane
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Fahad Mustafa
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Umair Rana in Tamana
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Best Music (Film)
https://soundcloud.com/nmathefilm
https://soundcloud.com/erphan-qayyum/ya-rahem-maula-maula-rahat-fateh-ali-khan-from-dukhtar-soundtrack
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Best Screenplay
Nabeel Qureshi & Fizza Ali Meerza put their own twist on the difficulties of living in a city like Karachi. The quick witted dialogues and tongue-in-cheek humor adds further to a well paced engaging story.
Jami Mahmood, Summer Nicks and Azaan Sami Khan combine to make a multiple layered story along the lines of other spy-thrillers like Syriana and achieve the desired reaction quite subtly.
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COMMENTS (15)
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This has been a good year for Pakistani movies.
Operation 021 was a brilliant movie for Jami and Azaan. They managed something near impossible in Pakistan, producing a movie that had a serious story and NO singing and dancing.
Good luck to both in their future endeavours
How is it that a film like Dukhtar which was all about the visually stunning backdrop doesnt get nominated for best cinematography?
Saw the film at the 3i Film in San Francisco to a packed audience and all Pakistanis were proud of this brilliant independent film by Alia her struggle to make this a reality. This film has been submitted as an entry for the Oscars 2015 and I am sure has a great chance for it winning the Oscar for best foreign film. The audience was mesmerized by the quality of the acting skills, the location the beautiful backdrop and sincere acting. Considering the challenges making this happen in a country with no media infrastructure has shown the world that resources can help but in the end the determination can prove the true grit of a great film maker like Alia.
Year 2013-14 will be remembered not as the time for revival but as the re-birth of Pakistani Cinema.The new film makers have taken dynamic initiatives and have opened new vistas for all to be inspired from. Such marvelous feats of work catalyzes cinema exhibition business which further lends opportunities to the terror stricken masses to unwind and enjoy. Well done and best of luck.
021 Hollywood Style Movie Shaan Shahid Great Actor Shaan Shahid Onely One Verstyle Actor Of Lollywood Cinema History 1990 to 2014 All Time Super Star Operation 021 Amezing Movie
Didnt see a production design category. That is a huge part of any film. Needs to be acknowledged definitely.
Saleem Mairaj - he's way too good. Undoubtedly one of the best in the industry - and not just in Pakistan. For those who don't know his work, look for it and you'll know what I'm saying.
.....by the way, how many movies released so far.
Operation 021 is a bold step to international market very original story well crafted and perfectly Executed performances enhance the beauty of watching a quality movie and the color schemes and Dolby Atmos Sound combine all elements together and you,ll find it as a Cinematographic Masterpiece , the subject is Educational Rather then pure entertainment so its not a movie for everyone but Finally we are in the right direction to stand with today,s world Shan ,Ayub Khosos , Hameed Shaikh and James Hallet did Justice to their Characters wish i could see Shamoon Abbasi some More he is a very strong actor . in the other hand Na Maloom Afraad,s theme seems familiar Hera pheri and some other bolly mantra with typical bollywood entertainment formula movie .
operation 21 was nice movie best about movie was nicely picturized n edited but there could be some more in story line ... Whole movie seemed liked they are building a story and suddenly it ends
Best Pakiatani Product? O21
Naa Mallom Afrad nice movie and Operation 021 well picturised..!
Best Item Number........Billie...in Na Maloom Afraad.