KTSIPH reviews from Urdu & English Press

The first review is from the newspaper Dawn which has been published today and is fairly positive.

Gul to the rescue

Two present-day actors, Javed Shaikh and Ajab Gul, have successfully graduated to direction with the former taking the lead. Shaikh has seven movies to his name, while the recently released Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai is Gul’s second outing as director.

There are also other common factors between the two — both are essentially television products, continue acting in films and are romantically inclined in their approach to film-making. Gul’s Khoey Ho Tum Kahan was a love story. The title of his second film suggests another excursion in the same direction but its romantic content, making a sensational resurgence towards the end, is a thriller with break-neck momentum and exciting action.

A positive aspect of these actors-directors’ work is their stress on quality. While a lot differentiates their films from other local productions, it is the technical value (a constant casualty in Pakistani films) that distinguishes their output. Also, they try to make films for all segments of society and provide wholesome entertainment that can be watched by viewers who have given up on local cinema.

The film starts as a clash between good and evil, a landscape that marks cinema across the world. The pursuits are represented in the film by two individuals who are deeply committed to their way of life. The characters are brilliantly rendered by versatile artists Nadeem and Talat Hussain, with quiet assertiveness by the former and boisterousness and exuberance by the latter.

The families of the two, a former judge (Nadeem) and ex-chief minister (Talat Hussain) are interlinked by nuptials, but do not serve as bonds. Talat is a power-hungry politician who stops at nothing — bribery, killings, abductions — to achieve his goals. He is under investigation and the man in charge of the case is Nadeem’s character, the traditional upstanding citizen and an upholder of values and justice.

The only blemish in Nadeem’s life is two wives, one being Ajab Gul’s mother with whom he has an strained relationship. Police officer Babrak Shah by the other wife is acknowledged as his son and so the stepbrothers have a strong dislike for each other. They also share the love of the same girl (Talat’s daughter played by Veena Malik) whose marriage to Babrak deepens the enmity and a sense of deprivation in Gul.

The first half comprises well-knit, absorbing sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats, not only because of twists and turns in the narrative but also by forceful portrayals of characters by the two veteran actors. Talat Hussain adds another laurel to his credentials by effectively casting off the image of being a single dimension artist with pragmatically delivered ruthless villainy.

In a manner of speaking, the two consummate artists make a negative contribution to the film because other than Gul, most players look wanting in comparison. The saving grace in the acting department is the bit roles by some known television and film actors such as Tahira Wasti and Nighat Chaudhry. Gul makes a tremendous and successful effort to match their histrionic talent but it is Babrak Shah, good looking with the right build to play the lead in our films, who has an extremely difficult time. Gul could also have done better by eschewing the Khal Nayak image and at times, gestures.

The second-half of the film is almost pure action, fast-moving and lethal, but in the absence of major progression in the narrative, some footage tends to drag. Fortunately, the director, also the writer, tightens his hold in the end with a highly dramatic climax.

The action and chase sequences have been expertly handled by cinematographer Waqar Bokhari, but could have been more slickly edited. The music has been composed by the writer, director and actor and one wishes he had hired a professional. The dances are well choreographed, but Sana who makes a special appearance could have been given a more sensational wardrobe for her number. Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai, however, is an action movie, a thriller extraordinaire with which conventional entertainment does not gel well.

While the script has logic and coherence, this reviewer finds one of its aspects unfair: the narrative. Politicians in Pakistan have never been blood-spilling tyrants. They have been pawns and remain pieces on the chessboard manipulated by a higher authority. Talat Hussain has therefore been cast against an imaginary character but he has produced the kind of performance one hasn’t seen in years.

Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai is a worthy addition to the small number of quality movies Pakistan has produced over the last decade. However, like its two successful predecessors, Jawaid Shaikh’s Yeh Dil Aap Ka Hua and Shahzad Rafiq’s Salakhain — both box-office hits — the film is a personal achievement for Ajab Gul but is unlikely to have a positive impact on local film production.

The film proves that people hanker for quality entertainment and willingly back it with their purse, and Pakistan’s film-makers would do well to register the message.

The Isloo launch

A rather defensive Ajab Gul faced a volley of questions for choosing the rather long Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai as the title for his new film. “The name comes from my heart,” said the writer/director at the press show in Islamabad last week.

Other than this, Gul had nothing new to say apart from the oft-repeated statement: “Yeh film zara hatkay hai.” Later, putting down Bollywood as nothing extraordinary, Gul said: “Name any recent Indian film which has created a mark.” The crowd responded with Black.

On why he has cast actors from Mauritius and got the songs recorded by an Indian singer, Gul said: “Earlier, we had Robin Ghosh, Shabnam, Runa Laila and others in our film industry. Now, the situation is quite different. The idea is to have the best available talent sing for the film.” He promised that Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai would be a trendsetter for the new age of Pakistani cinema.

Veena Malik, when asked for her comments, said: “Everything is wonderful about the film, from the director to the locations. It is also a breakthrough in my career.”

The songs have been picturized in Mauritius and the processing done in Bangkok to give the film a professional look. The rushes were impressive with scenic locations, convincing fighting sequences (Ajab Gul is a black belt) and the sound quality and lyrics a treat for the ears.

All said and done, here’s hoping Kyun Tum Se Itna Pyar Hai does not fizzle out and proves to be a breath of fresh air in the decaying corridors of Pakistani cinema.