Daily Times

Zashko Entertainment’s debut film ‘Na Band Na Baraati’, which put forth new faces and talent in Pakistani cinema, did not just release in Pakistan but the Middle East, the United States as well as Canada.

The Pakistani rom-com which released on Eidul Fitr and ran in cinemas with packed shows until the eve of Eidul Azha, raked in Rs 14.2 crores/ $1.6 million. The Mahmood Akhtar directorial which was an amalgamation of love, comedy, family bonding and wedding affairs was received well by the international audience much more than it was welcomed in Pakistan, at least according to the revenue. The story was written by Harish Kumar Patel, starring newcomers from the US, with Shayan Khan and the veteran Mikaal Zulfiqar in leading roles.

The beautiful locations of Toronto, Canada added charm to the film making it a scenic project which the audience could take relaxation from. The movie was Akhtar’s directorial debut. The outstanding music of the film was by Ayaz Sonu.

‘I don’t think this is the time to be very critical of every film and producer. It is time to be supportive of new producers and investors as well as directors as we grow together’

Music legends such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Sahir Ali Bagga and youth sensations like Aima Baig and Nimra Rafiq added their soulful tracks for the music album of the film, making it a powerful and a relatable one.

Here is hoping Zashko Entertainment will keep up to its promise of promoting fresh talent and will bring more foreign investment to local entertainment industry.

“It’s been a pleasure to be a part of the Pakistani film industry. Investing in Pakistani cinema at this stage makes us proud and we have seen a great response from the audiences internationally compared to local box office due to lack of screens in Pakistan. We will continue to invest in Pakistani cinema as it grows. More screens are being added in Pakistan and that will help producers in making more money from films. Pakistani cinema is in the stages of growth and we would like critics and other media organisations to be co-operative in this growth. I don’t think this is the time to be very critical of every film and producer. It is time to be supportive of new producers and investors as well as directors as we grow together. We saw more business overseas as we released on over 300 screens compared to the 67 screens in Pakistan. Insha Allah as the numbers of screens grow in Pakistan so will the box office numbers for local films,” ‘Na Band Na Baraati’ producer Zain Farooqi says. The cast delivers some of their most memorable performances where the story revolves around a typical Pakistani family that lives in Toronto, Canada.

The family is busy in organising a big, fat, very relatable desi wedding for their two sons in Toronto. Mikaal Zulfiqar and debutante Shayan Khan are playing the roles of brothers while Ali Kazmi is playing a character with grey shades. Some of the other cast members are Nayab Khan, Komal Farooqi and Azra Mohiuddin among others.

As it is with other films, this one in particular had created quite a stir right from its first official trailer which was released in early June 2018, even though the film’s shooting was completed almost two years back.

The entire movie has been shot in Canada, so the picturesque locales and scenic beauty has been captured in full, and proves to be refresher from all the heat we’re facing in Pakistan at the moment.

Another highlight of the film is the performance of Ukrainian model Anzhelika Tahir, who features in a prominent role in the film.

“We have taken every step to make this movie a success. The producer’s idea behind this movie was to make an international impact with Pakistani films. Everyone associated with ‘Na Band Na Baraati’ has contributed towards achieving this goal. I believe in hard work and I am certain that the audiences will appreciate our efforts,” Akhtar said of the film. —

Published in Daily Times, August 30^th 2018.