Trailer out: Nawazuddin Siddiqui versus Sarmad Khoosat's 'Manto'

Here's our take on which film boasted a better trailer

KARACHI: The trailer of Nandita Das' much-awaited Manto, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival, was released recently. While Nawazuddin Siddiqui stars in a titular role in the biopic, Sarmad Khoosat played protagonist in the Pakistani version. While Khoosat's Manto released in 2015, Das' directorial is set to hit screens on September 21.

Here's presenting a break down of both Manto trailers.

1. Cast

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Khoosat's version of Manto included some big names from the local entertainment industry. Gifted actors such as Saniya Saeed, Rehan Sheikh, Nimra Bucha, Faysal Qureshi essayed pivotal roles. Others such as Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar, Azfar Rehman, Yasra Rizvi, Hina Khawaja Bayat, Mansha Pasha and Khoosat, on the other hand, added popular appeal to the film.

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In Das' Manto, Siddiqui stars as the iconic writer. Rishi Kapoor and Paresh Rawal make appearances too. While Khoosat's cast featured many big names from the Pakistan, Das kept it simple with actors noted for their craft.

2. Dialogues

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Siddiqui is one of the finest actors in Bollywood. Excel, he always does at dialogue delivery. Transforming into characters he essays with effortless ease, Manto appears to have been written for a man of such histrionic ability.

Khoosat, on the other hand, failed to carry impact. The script, by and large, failed to do justice to Manto's life and times.

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Considering how Urdu remains alive in Pakistan unlike India, Khoosat's version was expected to have greater finesse. Das' Manto, however, appears to have employed Urdu's poetic beauty in a befitting manner.

3. Visuals

Khoosat's Manto trailer focused on an eclectic range of characters featured in the film. Das', on the other hand, is premised more on the master writer.

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Much cannot be said about direction with Siddiqui's Manto yet to hit screens. However, the trailer devotes attention to how the grand doyen of Urdu short story tried to raise awareness. It also shows glimpses of his family life and him struggling to make ends meet.

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Khoosat's trailer was merely an introduction to who was who in the film, overlooking the pivotal role content plays when it comes to a film. While it showed Manto's tryst with alcoholism, the trailer failed to spark audience interest. Siddiqui's Manto has not only done that but taken it a notch higher.

See for yourself. Who did you think made a better Manto?

Khoosat's Manto:


Siddiqui' Manto:


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