The Martial Artist' trailer packs a punch

Shaz Khan, Faran Tahir star in this Hollywood collab

KARACHI:

The trailer for The Martial Artist drops viewers into an adrenaline-packed world where sweat, blood and betrayal go hand in hand. This Pakistani-Hollywood collaboration starring Shaz Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Faran Tahir, stands poised to break ground—both in and out of the ring. Written in part and directed by Shaz himself, the film promises more than just fun-to-watch roundhouse kicks.

We all know Shaz Khan from Moor, Parwaaz Hai Junoon and Yaqeen Ka Safar, but this time he's not flying planes or practicing law. He's trading fighting in a courtroom for fighting in the MMA octagon. Right out of the gate, the trailer opens on a breathtaking aerial shot of northern Pakistan, mountains that seem to mirror the towering ambition of our protagonist, Ibby Bakran. And then, in a blink, we're thrust into the violent dance of Mixed Martial Arts, with Shaz sweating, throwing punches and bleeding onto the floor. The raw physicality is unmistakable, but as Ibby says in the trailer, "It's all about timing, agility, and precision." A trifecta the man seems to have mastered. Let's be real—it likely took months if not years of rigorous training for Shaz to pull off those stunts.

A visual winner

The cinematography is no slouch either. The camera lingers, soaking in every detail of Ibby's journey, and it's a visual treat. Apart from the Mayan temples that make an appearance at the end of the film, one particularly striking sequence is set against the backdrop of Death Valley, California where Ibby trains and fights with other characters. Here's where you begin to see the fighter's grit, his obsession with becoming the greatest.

After what seems to be a spectacular fall from grace in California, Ibby returns to his roots in Pakistan, and the vibe shifts. There's a serenity to the sequences in the village, a welcome counterpoint to the chaotic, fast-paced world he's left behind. As his substance-fuelled life spirals in California, betrayal and heartbreak seem to pile on in quick succession. You see glimpses of his wife, played by Sanam, and his mother, both characters shrouded in sadness as they are left behind by a man too caught up in his own descent.

Instead of returning to flashy gyms or relying on high-profile trainers, Ibby connects with local fighters in his village. This isn't just about physical fitness; it's about spiritual healing, which feels refreshing for a film that could've easily gone the route of pure sports drama. Now, if you're a martial arts enthusiast, you're in for a treat. Just when you think you've seen it all, boom—a cameo by MMA referee Herb Dean, no less. A cheeky nod to hardcore fans.

'An ode to Pakistani fighters'

Shaz, who conceived the idea of this film years ago, revealed in an interview from 2019 with BBC Asian Network that the story is deeply personal to him, an "emblematic" reflection of his own journey in the industry. That makes this project not just another film, but a passion piece.

Hollywood regular Faran, who's not just acting in this one but producing it too, summed it up well when he said, "It all comes down to what stories we want to put out there. People complain that Hollywood isn't putting us in the right light but no one else is going to do that for us. It's no one's responsibility but our own."

While there is no release date as of yet, early reactions to the trailer have been overwhelmingly positive. One comment read, "I can't wait to see this movie. The trailer looks awesome. It's time for a good martial arts movie and this looks like it's going to be good." Another wrote, "An ode to Pakistani fighters." Others laud it for breaking free from the usual tropes. Indeed, The Martial Artist is a far cry from the tired "saas bahu" formula that has long dominated South Asian cinema.