Despite the fact that there were only three major film releases in 2014, the diversity being displayed on celluloid was enough to merit a brighter future for Pakistani cinema in 2015.
Tamanna
Operation O21
This year saw the release of notable films including the highly-anticipated spy-thriller Operation 021 and the crime-caper comedy Na Maloom Afraad. We also saw directors venture into newer and unexplored genres with movies like drama-thriller Dukhtar, political-drama The System and neo-noir Tamanna. 2015 holds the possibility of releases of notable films like Moor, Yalghaar, Downward Dog and Jalaibee but apart from that there is not much on the calendar really.
Dukhtar
Na Maloom Afraad
We bring you the run down on the best that Pakistani cinema had to offer in 2014 and await your vote to decide who is best among our nominees of Tribune Cinema Awards.
The category for ‘best actor in a lead role – female’ has been axed due to a lack of powerful female lead characters in films that were released this year.
Na Maloom Afraad for all its tongue-in-cheek humour captured the life of every Pakistani trying to make it big in a city as volatile as Karachi.
Operation 021 is Pakistan’s attempt at an espionage thriller and turned out to be the most technically sound Pakistani film to date.
Nabeel Qureshi’s Na Maloom Afraad despite being overzealous with Bollywood, the film was a great example of how to execute an ideal Masala film.
Jami Mahmood ventured into an unsafe territory by directing Pakistan’s first spy-thriller and did an admirable job.
Urwa Hocane plays the girl next door Naina, who is desperate to marry her tenant in Na Maloom Afraad.
Aamina Sheikh was Shaan’s love interest in the 2013 spy thriller and does well with her short yet significant screen presence.
Nayyar Ejaz plays the insurance agent Samuel, who catches up with the scam by the characters in Na Maloom Afraad.
Nayyar Ejaz in Operation 021 provides Shaan with a way out.
Saleem Mairaj plays a drug addict who delivers a lecture in bomb making 101.
Kami & Shani – Vicky Haider’s (Na Maloom Afraad)
Peter Nashel & Sahir Ali Bhagga (Dukhtar)
Rizwan AQ/ Team 021 – Operation 021
Asif Mumtaz – Na Maloom Afraad
Ayub Khoso plays the one-eyed yet far-sighted Afghanistani rebel Abdullah in Operation 021.
Fahad Mustafa is the down on luck, salesman of IFU Insurance Farhan in Na Maloom Afraad.
Mohsin Abbas Haider plays the Romeo-esque daydreamer Moon seeking to find a living in Dubai in Na Maloom Afraad.
Mohib Mirza is a driver, Sohail who helps escort the mother-daughter duo of Allah Rakhi and Zainab to safety in Dukhtar.
Shaan Shahid does what he does best, fighting off terrorists while trying to forget his troubled past as agent Kash.
Shamoon Abbasi, or Pakistan’s premier bad guy, was impressive as CIA’s Pakistani agent Danish in Operation 021.
Adnan Shah Tipu for his ferocious portrayal of Ghorzang Khan, who forces the parents of a young girl into marriage in Dukhtar.
Salman Shahid plays the no-mercy and no-nonsense godfather Gogi, of an otherwise idiosyncratic gang in Na Maloom Afraad.
Mohsin Abbas Haider
Urwa Hocane
Fahad Mustafa
Omair Rana
Rana Kamran – Na Maloom Afraad
Mo Azmi – Operation 021
Kami & Shani – Vicky Haider’s (Na Maloom Afraad)
Peter Nashel & Sahir Ali Bhagga (Dukhtar)
Voting for the best in Pakistani cinema is open till December 30, 2014. Visit tribune.com.pk to cast your vote.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 26th, 2014.
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