‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’ that came out in 2013, has to be one of the best films ever made in Pakistan.
The film was informative and also motivated the audience to do something concrete with their lives and not waste their youth doing drugs and staying idle. The whole idea behind the film was that nothing is impossible when a person works hard to achieve it and I cannot help but wonder why Pakistani cinema isn’t releasing content like this anymore.
The film was directed by Syed Ali and Raza Usama and produced by Humayun Saeed and Shahzad Nasib. It starred Humayun Saeed, Nauman Habib, Ismail Tara, Nadeem Baig, Javed Sheikh, Shehzad Sheikh, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Mahnoor Baloch, Gohar Rasheed, Summer Nicks, Annie Jafri, Mathira Muhammad and Saife Hassan.
The film started out with the spoils of drug addiction and what it can do to someone’s professional career. Not just that, but how it affects a person’s relationships with others as well. The person loses respect and value in society. Saeed played a professional who jeapardises his career and his relationships only because of drugs. The way he becomes a burden on himself is portrayed very beautifully throughout the film.
Like I mentioned earlier, the film talks about not giving up and facing every challenge with utmost bravery. The film is very motivational and its climax is gripping. With romantic and crime films releasing left, right and centre in Pakistan, I would like to reiterate how motivational and inspirational films are needed and we could definitely do with another like ‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’
The film also highlighted how a person can transform his or her life by making healthy changes. After suffering heavily from the backlash he receives, Saeed gets his act together and makes a cricket team titled Sialkot Shaheens.
Another character in the film is Michael who is a wicket keeper. He suffers from a terrible hand injury but keeps his focus. He has always idolised cricketer Shahid Afridi and leads his team towards victory even with an injured hand.
Like I mentioned earlier, the film talks about not giving up and facing every challenge with utmost bravery.
The film is very motivational and its climax grips one. With romantic and crime films releasing left, right and centre in Pakistan, I would like to reiterate how motivational and inspirational films are need of the hour as we desperately need another film like ‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’.
The writer is a student at Government Boys High School and DELTA. He can be reached at [email protected]