Vulgar or funny? Yasir Nawaz still feels right about 'Wrong No.'

Director says if you can take your family to watch PK and Queen, you can watch Wrong No. with them as well

KARACHI: Renowned actor and TV director Yasir Nawaz is all set to release his first film, Wrong No. However, the comedy film starring Javed Sheikh, Danish Taimoor and Sohai Ali Abro in lead roles has recently faced criticism from various quarters for being vulgar, instead of being funny.

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Recently, actor Gohar Rasheed posted a status on Facebook saying, "Saw the trailers of some upcoming Pakistani films, some are great and some are pathetic and over here am talking to all those pathetic film makers, writers, producers don’t think that our audience is stupid they are much more intelligent and smarter then your cheap punch lines... Spending money and having GHATIYA comedy in the name of slap stick is not what you call a film even slap stick have some limits but you guys have crossed all of it shame on you!!![sic]."

Even though he didn't name it, it's obvious that Gohar was referring to Wrong No. since it is the only comedy film releasing in the near future. Gohar's friend Hamza Ali Abbasi also seemed to attack the film in a recent Facebook post.

"Back in 2012, when very few people believed in it, i believed in the emerging new cinema of Pakistan. 2013 saw the revival of Pakistan Cinema. But now, in 2015, I see this newly revived cinema of Pakistan going in a very wrong direction. I too sadly became part of this wrong direction... which i regret," Hamza had written.

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We caught up with Yasir and asked him if his movie is a family entertainer. "Of course it is a family entertainer. If you can take your family to watch PK, Dil Dhadakne Do and Queen; you can watch Wrong No. with them as well," he told The Express Tribune.

He stressed that film is different from TV. "Film ko dramay ki tarhan nahi dekhna. Film alag hai, drama alag hai [You can't watch a film with the same mindset that you watch a TV serial with]."

Yasir added that he can guarantee that the audiences would enjoy watching the film. "By the end of it, people will be like 'why did it end so soon?' You won't stop laughing for the entire duration of the film."

As for critics, Yasir said, "When we started writing the film even then we knew we would get good reviews, and we will come across bad people. But the best thing about a making a film is that it's either a hit or a flop. Either way you find out if the audience liked it or not."

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Well, we will find out soon if the film strikes a chord with the audience or not. But its fate is not dependent on just its content but also on competition. Wrong No. isn't the only film releasing on Eid and will be challenged by Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed-starrer Bin Roye.

"All Pakistani filmmakers are working really hard. It's an open market. Whoever is the best will win," Jerjees Seja, CEO ARY Digital Network (Wrong No. is being distributed by ARY Films) said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Jerjees however did say that there needs be better planning in terms of scheduling release dates and it shouldn't become a matter of ego. "It needs to be a business decision. All Pakistani movies will make money. We support all and my best wishes to Bin Roye."

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Yasir too wished the team of Bin Roye well. "I pray that both films do well. We can't afford to compete at this point when the film industry is in its infancy. So we have to support each other. Once we are settled, there can be healthy competition," he said.

There is competition from Bollywood as well. Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan is also releasing on Eid. "You can't compare a film that has a budget of over INR100 crores with a film that is made in a few crores. But let me tell you, I will still beat it. We are ready for the challenge. Although I do feel that since our industry is just starting off, this shouldn't happen. Bollywood films must be released but shouldn't be given the same slot as Pakistani films. There should be a gap of 10-12 days."

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Come what may, the cast of the Wrong No. is overjoyed and very excited about the release. Sohai, who is a sort of a resident performer at all the major award shows, is finally making a jump into films after a successful stint in TV. "I am kind of nervous but I am excited. My character is that of a fun, bubbly girl who is in love," She told The Express Tribune.

At a recent press event for the film, Javed Sheikh and lead actor Danish Taimoor also seemed happy with the response the trailer had received. "Actually it's right number not Wrong No., you will find that out on Eid. It's a thoroughly entertaining film," Javed said while talking to the media.

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"You can't make a film with money. Passion is what's needed to make a good film. Each member of our team was extremely passionate about this project," Danish told the press.

The film also stars Shafqat Cheema, Danish Nawaz, Nadeem Jaffery and Janita Asma. We wish the entire team good luck!