Daily Times

Superhero movies seem to be the most talked about genre these days and have been making a breakthrough at a global level.

Although these flicks have been there since decades, the rapid pace of production in the industry has been making waves; related blockbusters had been prominent almost when Superman made his debut in comics back in 1938. The phenomenon that started as a caped crusader has now branched off into an inundation of characters with super powers, dark nights, and technologically equipped guardians while there seems to be no end to the entertainment they bring to their audience.

The year 1941 marked the memorable time when the first true superhero movie hit the screen in the form of a 12 chapter serial called the Adventures of Captain Marvel, what then followed just two years afterwards was a 15 chapter Batman serial in 1943. Lewis Wilson who was the caped crusader set a strong foundation of the Batman character that has inspired everyone until date. In the 2000s, some of the notable superhero movies made quite a financial mark in terms of revenue generation and in the year 2012, ‘The Avengers’ turned out to be on top of the list with the summer blockbuster having made a whopping $1.519 billion worldwide.

While children aspire to be like their favourite superheroes, young adults admire them and often resort to a character inspired merchandise collection spree. From vintage comics to limited edition figurines, the industry seems to be becoming lucrative thanks consumers’ appreciation and surging demand for them. In 2016 alone, the top five collectable souvenirs belonged to ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’, ‘Batman VS Superman’, ‘Captain America’ and ‘Deadpool’.

Pakistan though taking baby steps in this industry may be making a breakthrough soon with the launch of its first ever superhero movie, ‘Project Ghazi’ which will be released on July 14 across cinemas nationwide and internationally later this year. The snacking giant, Mondel?z Pakistan is eyeing great potential in this exclusive project while having set ahead Tang as the movie’s lead sponsor. “The provision of art and culture is essential in bridging the divide among nations. We, at Mondel?z Pakistan have been promoting art and culture in Pakistan. Sponsoring ‘Project Ghazi’ is part of the same strategy that focuses on establishing a positive image of the country. It is quite invigorating to witness that Pakistani cinema is geared towards a new direction with highly talented and educated people joining this industry. The movie is quite unique given its genre, promising cast and strong narrative. We therefore saw the collaboration as an onset of an outstanding relationship,” Mondel?z Pakistan Managing Director Usman Munir at a recent trailer launch event.

The Pakistani audience is anxiously awaiting this highly anticipated blockbuster while Project Ghazi’s team itself is eager to see it leave a profound impact and create an outstanding impact worldwide.

Produced by Syed Muhammad Ali Raza and directed by Nadir H Shah, the science fiction movie revolves around highlighting the intolerance prevalent in the society which is eventually dealt with by highly skilled soldiers as a result of their valiant demeanour and the spirit of nationalism.

The cast of ‘Project Ghazi’ includes Shehryar Munawar, Saira Shahroz, Humayun Saeed, Adnan Jaffar and Nusrat Hidayatullah.

“The fan attention is very humbling after all the effort we’ve put in. We enrolled into martial arts classes and followed a strict diet and gym routine for about six to eight months. How this script grabbed my attention was construed on its clear focus and a message that was based on a nationalist agenda without the element of hatred for any other state,” says Shehryar Munawar, the lead character of ‘Project Ghazi’.

The producer of the movie has high hopes regarding one of the most cherished projects he’s been associated with and is convinced that it will set new precedence in the industry. “People were of the view that a movie of this level could not be made in Pakistan. Contrary to this thought, I believe that if you have talent, anything is possible. One just has to take an initiative and I’m sure that ‘Project Ghazi’ will not only give a positive message to the world but also set a benchmark in cinematography.”

Published in Daily Times, July 12^th , 2017.