Daily Times

Pakistan these days is passing through difficult times as war clouds are hovering owing to India’s negative stance. In the last week of February, India showed irresponsibility by entering Pakistan’s airspace by crossing the Line of Control (LoC) but due to vigilance and efficiency of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), they had to head back. PAF in retaliation to India’s aggression, showed its power the very next day by hitting some targets there. A fight took place in which Pakistan shot down two Mig 21 airplanes of India and captured a pilot. Although after a few days, Pakistan, in its goodwill gesture, released the captured pilot but unfortunately India instead of recognising this action continued its aggression at the LoC.

In this background, the trailer of a film made on the performance and training of PAF titled ‘Sherdil’ is making waves and the public is excited to watch this movie which will be released in cinemas across Pakistan on March 22, 2019 – a day before Pakistan Day.

The word “sherdil” has a strong connection with Pakistan as it is the name given to aerobatics display team of PAF that regularly participates in various national and international events.

Sherdil’s cast comprises the charismatic Mikaal Zulfiqar who will be appearing in a central role for the first time in a film. Armeena Khan Rana will be playing opposite Mikaal Zukfiqar.

Other members of the cast include Hassan Niazi who is playing flight Lieutenant Arun Veerani of India Air Force

‘Sherdil’ is penned by Nauman Khan who is also playing the role of an instructor in the movie and is also the producer of this movie.

Veteran actress Samina Ahmed will play the role of Zulfiqar’s grandmother. The trailer of the film shows a brief conversation between the two which has gotten us all too excited.

The word ‘sherdil’ has a strong connection with Pakistan as it is the name given to aerobatics display team of PAF that regularly participates in various national and international events

The pride expressed by Zulfiqar on receiving his joining letter is a cherished moment. This one shot described how excited a person can become on starting his journey towards fulfilling a childhood dream.

Nauman Khan revealed that he decided to make a movie on Armed Forces while doing a song with the late musician, entrepreneur and preacher Junaid Jamshed a few years ago.

It’s interesting to note that Zulfiqar was also part of that music video. Khan is grateful to PAF for the support they rendered.

‘Sherdil’ is directed by Azfa Jafri who has done four to five movies in the past and all the movies have done well at the box office.

While watching the trailer, I felt that the central concept of the movie was derived from a surgical strikes drama created by India in 2016 after the Uri attacks.

As the trailer of the film is getting a lot of hype, it’s surprising to see the stark similarities ‘Sherdil’ has with ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’, a movie made in collaboration with PAF.

While ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’ was made against terrorists and ‘Sherdil’ is made to highlight the hostilities of our eastern neighbour, the heroines in both films urge their beloved to quit their job. The jokes cracked on new recruits are also similar and the song picturised on Zulfiqar and Armeena Rana Khan is looking like a revised copy of love song picturised on Hamza Abbasi and Hania Amir in ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’. In both ‘Sherdil’ and ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’, the hero has issues with his father.

In my view, it will be better if makers of ‘Sherdil’ revealed those parts of the film in their trailer which have no similarities with ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’.

The soundtrack of ‘Sherdil’ is composed by Adnan Dhul and Rabi Ahmed of Soch the Band.

Watching the trailer, I’m pleased to note that the sound effects are balanced. Unlike the films of yesteryears, current filmmakers are taking sound effects seriously and are making efforts to improve them.

As Pakistani cinema has made two back-to-back movies on PAF, one feels there should be films made on the Army or the Navy as well.

‘Sherdil’ is a combined production of Ary Films and NK Pictures. In the wake of the current situation in the country, the film is expected to do record breaking business at the box office.

Talking exclusively to Daily Times, Khan said, “I made this movie from my own inspirations. Resemblance of ‘Sherdil’ with ‘Parwaaz Hai Junoon’ is just a coincidence. I made this movie to fulfil a promise I made to Junaid Jamshed.”

‘Sherdil’ will have four songs and its sound is done in Europe.

The film will be released simultaneously in Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and few other Middle Eastern countries.

The writer is a freelance journalist. He can be reached at kzk1972@gmail.com and Tweets at @KhurramZiaKhan