Four Pakistani films to catch in cinemas this Eidul Fitr

Cinemagoers, rejoice! This Eidul Fitr, movie lovers can finally enjoy a hefty dose of local films in cinemas. With four promising Eid releases slated to hit the big screen this week, fans will finally see a fair bit of local activity at cinemas after two long years ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Viewers will get to choose between Saba Qamar and Zahid Ahmed’s crime-comedy Ghabrana Nahi Hai, Hania Aamir and Ali Rehman Khan’s social dramedy Parde Mein Rehne Do, murder-mystery Chakkar starring Ahsan Khan and Neelam Munir, as well as the Adnan Siddiqui romance production Dum Mastam.

While cinemagoers will also have a selection of international movies to watch, including the highly-anticipated Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the Pakistani choices are ideal for a film experience the whole family can enjoy! Here’s what you can expect to see from the local releases hitting cinemas this Eid.

Ghabrana Nahi Hai

The film’s trailer featured gold chain-sporting gangsters, gun-wielding police officers, sherwani-clad politicians as well as a bride marching into a wedding venue filled with shocked guests, seemingly ready for a confrontation.

The trailer unpacks a love triangle, themes of corruption, debauchery and women being undermined or exploited in situations of extreme political pressure. While the plot is skillfully kept under wraps, the clip shows Saba Qamar playing yet another fearless phoenix of a woman who rises from the ashes to put men in their place.

The film is set to explore how a social media influencer-turned-actor like Saba’s character, can go to extremes to prove to the men around her that if they don’t pull up their socks and serve justice, women like her will have to take the power back.

Promising an action-packed ride for lovers of desi crime thrillers as well as comedy, the film also stars Zahid Ahmed, Syed Jibran and Nayyer Ijaz, with director Saqib Khan at the helm of the project.

Parde Mein Rehne Do

Judging by what has been revealed so far, Parde Mein Rehne Do looks like a promising watch with an intriguing storyline. Following the struggles of a married couple, played by Hania Aamir and Ali Rehman Khan, failing to get pregnant, and the societal pressures they face along the way, the Wajahat Rauf production appears to offer a hefty dose of drama with a fair bit of comedy sprinkled in.

The film also features Javed Sheikh as the head of the household, who constantly laments his lack of grandchildren, comparing the young couple to relatives who are on the verge of giving birth to their ninth kid. Later on in the trailer, the actor's character asserts that he will not let his bloodline end with his son.

The film features a glitzy dance number, snippets of which were provided in the trailer. Dealing with the topic of impotency, which is often treated as taboo, the film appears to highlight important issues related to reproductive health, as well as the social backlash faced by couples who fail to get pregnant.

Dum Mastam

After frequent delays, Adnan Siddiqui’s production debut and the Ehtashamuddin directorial Dum Mastam will finally hit the big screens on Eid.

Set in the oft-romanticised neighbourhoods of old Lahore, Dum Mastam’s trailer ticks all boxes for a quintessential family flick. The brief but fast-paced first look of the film successfully delivers a kaleidoscopic outlook into childhood lovebirds-Aliya, played by Amar Khan, and Bao’s (essayed by Imran Ashraf) lives that eventually face a karmic shift.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Adnan elaborated on the title of the film. “It’s a word that screams joy. Dum Mastam means to enjoy, to reach a stage of self-actualisation where you’re content with yourself and your actions. Once you’ve reached that stage, you say Dum Mastam.” Well, that definitely hints at a happy ending for us!

Calling the film his “baby”, Adnan also maintained, “Dum Mastam is not experimental, I didn’t take that risk with this one. It is filled with what the audience expects on a festive occasion like Eid – emotions, songs, love, drama. It has it all.”

Chakkar

Chakkar will not be a typical rom-com like the previous movies Yasir Nawaz has directed and produced. Perfectly in line with the murder-mystery genre, Yasir has also managed to add a festive comedic element to the film, making it stand out as a distinct holiday release.

Produced by the husband-wife duo, comprising Yasir and his better half Nida, under the Farid Nawaz Productions banner, Chakkar explores the mystery surrounding a murder case. Neelam essays a double role in the film, playing twin sisters Mehreen and Zara Khan, with Ahsan Khan playing the former’s husband. Zara is the glamorous celebrity diva between the two, with the twins deciding to switch lives for some time. A murder ensues, followed by confusion about who may be dead and who may still be alive, making for a thrilling holiday watch!

Alongside the murder mystery, Chakkar appears to qualify as an all-encompassing entertainment package filled with dance numbers, action sequences, romantic ballads, picturesque locations, cheap punch lines, scattered comedy to ease the tension, suspense and of course, lots of drama.