re: Mein Hoon Shahid Afridi
Your comment echoes some of the comments on the blog bashing the reviewer but some of those arm-chair ‘critics’ even seem confused about whether the reviewer liked the movie or disliked it. Bizarre. Actually I found the review not that bad. And it is a blog post, posted on the eve of the film release, so perhaps it’s more of a rough draft; by the time it appears in print in Dawn’s Images section on Sunday, it will be tweaked I guess. ![]()
At least Dawn tries to give credit where it is due even when the movie, like this one, is sponsored by a rival media house. Its review of Josh was very critical but on the same front page of Images, there was a profile and interview of Josh’s director, Irum. And, from what I remember, that interview was quite celebratory in nature, generously praising the director’s work ethics and dedication to her craft.
Philosophy, from what I read in a review, Mahnoor Baloch makes “limited appearance” only. She’s the wife, perhaps estranged at first, of Humayun Saeed, who becomes a cricket team’s coach 15 years after his fall from grace as a national cricketer in the wake of being caught up in a drug scandal. The couple apparently has a 15 or so year old son too so they are perhaps “middle-aged” in the movie, and not, say, young college love-birds. There are other young actors in the movie though.
As for why she was picked, perhaps because she decided to charge less as she’s likely in the twilight of her career.
But honestly, she doesn’t look too ‘old’ or shabby at all. Also, perhaps she was one of the only Pakistani actresses who, at the latter stage of her career she’s now, could risk her reputation starring in the so-called “item number” or other possible “bold” scenes in the movie. It’s actually sad that while Pakistani audiences love their Sheilas and Munnis and Chamak Chalo–and films featuring those do the most business in Pak–the same people throw all kind of labels and insults at Pakistani actresses who would dare acting in a similar "bold’ manner. Sad. But we can hope that things will get better with time as more movies get released. Hopefully.
Completely agree. Ramchand Pakistani is available on amazon as well. Although this movie is a “masala” musical, and thus can’t possibly rival movies like Ramchand Pakistani, I won’t mind paying $3 to $5 to rent this movie on Amazon Instant Videos just to see what the fuss is all about. It can’t be too cheesy. ![]()
Watch it people!