The True Revival Of Pakistani Cinema


In the yesteryears, Pakistani films have been iconic, and vivid. The likes of Waheed Murad, Sultan Rahi, and Madam Noor Jahan have vastly contributed to the integrity of the industry. However, things changed and we lost our essence. For many years, there was a vacuum of good films. Luckily, the scourge broke up and we got great films like Bol that made a mark globally.


The state of filmmaking in Pakistan depends on the youth. Like every other field, the youth is responsible to revive the glory of the cinema. Recently, I met a young, talented filmmaker from Lahore, Mehroz Amin. We collaborated on a project and I explored so much of the undiscovered talent of the country. Apparently, we feel there is no hope and nothing good is happening, but it turns out we are wrong. Many people are tirelessly working to develop quality content and they are also making a mark. Mehroz directed a film called Tumhari Pam Pam. When I met him and discovered his incredible work, I was astonished. Especially by the lack of acknowledgement and awareness. Tumhari Pam Pam won the Best Writer at New Jersey Indian & International Film Festival (NJIIFF) 2019. The film was also a finalist at Golden Film Awards International Film Festival. Moreover, the film was officially displayed at many international film festivals. It received recognition around the world. I felt so proud. The amount of hard work that these people put into making films needs more recognition locally. People need to explore the work and give due acclaim because that is the only way we will evolve. 


About Tumhari Pam Pam

It is a 21-minute long film that revolves around characters set in the 1980s. I am a huge fan of the retro feels and this film successfully takes you back to that era. The story is very unique. It focuses on the incredible art of letter-writing: one of the most beautiful forms of communication. A colorful character called Mirza decides to sell love letters. He becomes the artistic voice of lovers and writes delightful letters that are not only romantic but highly effective. As he continues to execute his "work," he receives a mysterious love letter from an unknown woman. Everything spirals out after he receives the letter and falls in love with the words of an unknown female. It is a phenomenal story that makes you think and wonder. Predator becomes the pawn and as an audience, it was very satisfying to watch.


I am no expert but I loved everything about the film. The dialogues, direction, acting, music; everything was commendable. As the story progresses, you get on the edge of your seat to know what happens next, and that is what I love about the story. It's a must-watch. The quality of production is fabulous and I adored the locations; they picked the perfect places to establish the time shift. A special shout-out for that.


Recent Achievements

We have seen a lot of recognition for Joyland at the Cannes Film Festival. It received a lot of coverage and attention. However, at the same film festival, Mehroz's film "Kalashnikov" was also the only Pakistani short film that was officially selected at Cannes, 2022. Sadly, the masses do not know about it because the team could not make it to the festival. Do you know why? I think you know why.




In his recent interviews, Mehroz described his struggle to gather money for the submission fee for the festival. He said, "I didn't have the money to pay."

I haven't watched Joyland but I know the faces who were involved in the project. They are known and influential artists who had no problem arranging a trip to Cannes. It isn't the case with "Kalashnikov." Young Pakistani filmmakers need to be supported and facilitated. It is a meek effort to let you all know about Mehroz and his work. Yet, so many other talented individuals are working in the field and gaining recognition globally, but the local audiences have no clue about them. It is unfortunate. So sad. I genuinely hope this changes. 


Here's congratulating Mehroz and his team on such a wonderful achievement. It's not easy to climb up the ladder when you lack resources and yet, they managed to bring prestige to the country. All the best for future endeavors.


Watch Tumhari Pam Pam here:




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