Over the past ten years, Pakistani cinema has experienced a dramatic transformation, regaining its reputation and pushing the boundaries in terms of production, narrative, and international recognition. We must celebrate the movies that have aided in this transformation on International Cinema Day. A new generation of filmmakers has surfaced in the past decade, creating pictures that appeal to viewers not just in Pakistan but also beyond. Each of these films offers something different in terms of genre, style, and topic, Together they reflect the energy, diversity, and changing character of Pakistani cinema.
Ten such movies that have significantly changed the industry have been outlined below.
1. Bol (2011)
Breaking many taboos, Bol had a very strong message on issues such as gender inequality, family structure, and the plight of women in a conservative society. Directed by Shoaib Mansoor, Bol revolves around a girl struggling against the odds her family faces due to poverty and social norms. The movie was marked as a classic work of Pakistani cinema because of its bold storyline and treatment of controversial topics.
2. Khuda Kay Liye (2007)
Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye is regarded as one of the “milestones” of modern Pakistani cinema. The film covers issues of tradition and modernity, religious extremism, and one young man with family problems caught in the international battle against terror. Despite being released in 2007, its influence continued into the 2010s, motivating a new generation of filmmakers to look critically at social and political issues.
3. Cake (2018)
Cake, a family drama written and directed by Asim Abbasi, is a recent and critically acclaimed masterpiece in Pakistani cinema. The film is set in Karachi and incorporates several aspects of generational strife, familial love, and tension. One of its remarkable qualities is the approach of understated characters, especially the women who manifest a variety of emotions, such as their tenderness and complexity. The flood of wide-ranging national reviews has heralded a change in Pakistani cinema towards deeper and more complex narratives. Additionally, was even selected as Pakistan’s entry for the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film category, signifying its international recognition.
4. Janaan (2016)
Azfar Jafri’s film Janaan is an interesting entry into the romantic comedy sphere. Mixing comedy, romance and drama with a Pakistani touch, it hits all the right notes. It’s about this girl who comes to Peshawar after some time and has to juggle between her family’s traditions and the society where she lives. Janaan won acclaim for its local settings and accurate representation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a region maligned by media stereotyping. Moreover, the success of the film changed a whole lot for the local representation in Pakistani cinema.
5. Teefa in Trouble (2018)
Teefa in Trouble marked the debut of pop icon Ali Zafar as a lead actor and also introduced the world to the directorial skills of Ahsan Rahim. This action-comedy is a vibrant and energetic take on the classic Bollywood masala film, featuring high-octane action, romance, and slapstick humour. The film’s success proved that the Pakistani film industry could produce commercially viable films with wide appeal. Furthermore, it not only revived interest in commercial cinema in Pakistan but also proved to the world that Pakistan could produce films on par with those from Bollywood in terms of scale and quality.
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6. Zindagi Tamasha (2020)
Zindagi Tamasha is a film which was viewed by the media with dissent, criticism and boldness. Along with that it also uncovered cultural norms, religious conservatism, and personal freedom. It tells the story of a revered cleric in Lahore whose life takes a turn when a video of him dancing at a wedding goes viral. The film raises and speaks about the common man’s virtue in most of their personal lives being put out before the public eye in themes such as freedom and repression as well as societal hypocrisy, thereby making it a pioneer for contemporary Pakistani cinema. While the film faced censorship challenges in Pakistan, it was celebrated internationally and was Pakistan’s submission for the Oscars.
7. Laal Kabootar (2019)
Laal Kabootar is a newly released crime thriller about Karachi directed by Kamal Khan, a city that is rarely realistically depicted in a Pakistani film. The film revolves around the lives of a taxi driver and a woman seeking revenge, set entirely against the streets of Karachi. The plot moves fast as the novel is raw, unfiltered, and unromantic or family-oriented, as is mostly seen in Pakistani cinema. Furthermore, its success added to the already growing trend of thrillers and dark narratives in the Pakistani film industry.
8. Load Wedding (2018)
Load Wedding, directed by Nabeel Qureshi, is a comedy-drama that is all about the economic pressures and social expectations related to marriages in Pakistan. Starring Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat, it portrays how the love story of a couple fades away under social pressures, expectations from their families, and financial strains. Load Wedding was an ironic commercial hit, and its reach demonstrated that this commercially driven success affirms the evolution of Pakistani cinema into one where pure entertainment can be part of bigger discourses.
9. The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022)
A modern reimagining of the iconic 1979 film, The Legend of Maula Jatt, directed by Bilal Lashari, is the most ambitious film project in recent Pakistani cinematic history. With its lavish production design, epic storytelling, and star-studded cast, the film became a box office phenomenon, both in Pakistan and overseas. Set in the rural heartlands of Punjab, it’s a tale of revenge, honour, and loyalty. Additionally, the film’s immense success heralded the arrival of big-budget films in the Pakistani cinema industry, and it helped elevate the profile of local productions in the global market.
10. Maalik (2016)
A political thriller directed by Ashir Azeem, Maalik addresses the themes of corruption, power, and justice in contemporary Pakistan. It tells the story of a group of military officers playing an intense game of manoeuvring in politics. This film was well respected for its incredible development of bold political storytelling. Such was nonexistent in films produced in Pakistan then. Also, the story reflected the socio-political situation faced by Pakistan.
Over the past decade, these films have not only redefined the boundaries of what Pakistani cinema can achieve but have also carved a space for fresh voices and diverse narratives. From romantic comedies to gritty thrillers and bold social commentaries, these films have broadened the scope of storytelling and proven that Pakistani cinema is a powerful force in the global film landscape.
On International Cinema Day, it’s important to recognise these milestones. Furthermore, it is necessary to acknowledge the ongoing evolution of Pakistani cinema as it continues to break barriers and challenge conventional norms.
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