Pakistani mega hit film ‘'Waar'’ | Reviews & Discussions.

[KingMamba]

Uhm....pretty sure "maoist" would be atheist....you are familiar with Mao's ideology?

You don't know how things roll in the subcontinent.

 

[Juice]

You don't know how things roll in the subcontinent.

True enough...

 

[livingdead]

Uhm....pretty sure "maoist" would be atheist....you are familiar with Mao's ideology?

indeed many of their leadership could be, but most of their foot soldiers and supporters do not necessarily reject their faith, and mostly are of hindu/christian/tribal origin.

 

[Umair Nawaz]

indeed many of their leadership could be, but most of their foot soldiers and supporters do not necessarily reject their faith, and mostly are of hindu/christian/tribal origin.

Dont post off topic posts r prepare for a ban

 

[RangerPK]

Did you not understand my rant at all?

For God sake, stop looking for the cheap way to watch it, if you want to help your industry, go to the cinema and buy a ticket, or else, big Pakistani films will be a shortlived story.

There is NO pirated version of this movie yet, ever since its release. As for your concern about Pakistanis watching the pirated version of it. Then no. No body pirated it, and everyone went to cinema to watch it....

If anything, this gives confidence to the producers to make Pakistani movies because' pakistani movies are unlikely to get pirated in our market (like waar). This shows how mature our market and audience are for the protection of our "local goods"

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Pakistani film Waar looks at recent history from a different perspective
Ujala Ali Khan

December 15, 2013 Updated: December 15, 2013 15:45:00



When it comes to films about contemporary events, Pakistan is not an unfamiliar name to audiences.

Topic

• Film festivals
• Celebrities
• Dubai International Film Festival

“In all the movies you watch – be it Iron Man or Thor or whatever else – there is always a mention of Pakistan,” says the Pakistani singer and actor Ali Azmat. “That mention is always in a negative capacity and that irritates me. I wanted to play a part in showing the world what our point of view is, as Pakistanis, and Waar has allowed me to do that.”

Azmat was speaking at a press conference preceding the Dubai International Film Festival screening of his latest film, Waar, on Thursday. The movie is currently playing in cinemas across the country.

The film, whose title can be translated as “strike” or “blow”, is Pakistan’s first English-language action thriller and looks at what is happening as the country is caught in the crossfire of an international war on terror.

“We live in confusing, interesting times. When Pakistan is depicted in a negative light, it’s not any one single country that does that, but it’s the war industry as a whole,” explains Azmat. “This is my chance to step up and show the audience why these games are being played.

“We need to have our narrative out in the world and show everyone that we are not just terrorists. We need to show them that we are a normal as any one in New York and that we have fears and hopes like other people do. We are hoping to get our narrative out to combat the established mindset about Pakistan.”

Breaking records

Azmat plays a politician in the film and shares the screen with the actors Shaan Shahid and Shamoon Abbasi, as well as newer talent including Meesah Shafi, Hamza Ali Abbasi and Ayesha Khan.

The film – directed by Bilal Lashari (who also acts in the film) and produced by Hassan Waqas Rana – received tremendous public support and financial success in its home country since its release on the first day of Eid Al Adha.

It broke the box office record for first-day collections, previously held by the recent Bollywood film Chennai Express. Today, with a total box office of almost Dh7 million, it is the highest-grossing Pakistani film of all time. Despite the commercial success, film critics in Pakistan have taken Waar to task by applauding its technical finesse but criticising its narrative.

“Waar is primarily a work of entertainment,” says the director Lashari. “You can choose to agree with the narrative or you can choose to disagree. The former will walk out happy and the latter will not. I never said this film will change your life. It’s not even intending to.”

Cinematic revival

The general reception of the film by Pakistanis in the UAE has so far been positive.

“The story is of absolute relevance, portraying the geopolitical situation Pakistan is currently facing, with Hollywood-style action sequences using real army gunships, which has never been done before, making Waar a must-watch for all action lovers,” says the Pakistani diplomatic consultant Mobisher Rabbani, a UAE resident.

“Pakistan is seeing a revival of its cinema, where young producers and directors who have learnt all the tricks of the trade abroad are returning to Pakistan to make movies.

“Ever-growing talent combined with the frustration that international media is not giving Pakistan its due [for its] sacrifices – in fact, is portraying it in a negative light – is bringing out such vocal movies and that is a good thing.”



Read more: Pakistani film Waar looks at recent history from a different perspective | The National
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[Umair Nawaz]

COMPETITION

WIN TICKETS TO ‘WAAR’ – UAE


Courtesy of our friends at Phars Film and Al Nisr FIlm Co., we are giving our eMatterz friends the chance to watch the most anticipated movie from Pakistan ’WAAR’ on the silver screen next week (Dec 15– 18).

The story of ‘WAAR’ is as follows. Major Mujtaba is a former Pakistan Army officer, who took an early retirement from the service. The plot involves a counter-terrorism operation being conducted in the Northwestern tribal region of Pakistan, lead by Ehtesham and coordinated by an intelligence officer. Ehtesham and the intelligence officer come to know of a major terrorist attack that can only be countered with the help of Major Mujtaba. ‘WAAR’ is written and directed by Bilal Lashari and stars Shan, Ali Azmat, Shamoon Abbasi and Meesha Shafi. The movie releases across the Gulf on Dec 12th.

To enter simply answer the following question by choosing the correct option and then share this post on Facebook and Twitter.

Good Luck & Happ-E-Viewing!



Terms & Conditions:

*Participants must be registered eMatterz members

*Children won’t be allowed to the screening

*Tickets are non-transferrable

- See more at: WIN TICKETS TO ‘WAAR’ – UAE | eMatterz 'First For Movies'

 

[Umair Nawaz]

WAAR "Pakistani Movie"
December 13 via mobile
---------------------"WAAR" BoxOffice Update------------------------#Waar Week 8 Boxoffice Collections:: Super Excellent The grand total of movie is Rs. 214,986,203.00 (21 Crores & 49 Lacs) Verdict:-#ATBB

(@BoxOfficeDetail)

 

[masifchang]

im really feel proud that i worked on production of this movie at ice animations.. boys worked hard and ofcourse hard work pays off. we had good time with Mr. Bilal lashari

 

[Umair Nawaz]

im really feel proud that i worked on production of this movie at ice animations.. boys worked hard and ofcourse hard work pays off. we had good time with Mr. Bilal lashari

Chal oye jhuty.

 

[ManuZ]

Waar should have been released much earlier....
Now that Dhoom 3 is releasing this weekkk...
The collections for waar is gonna dry up....
The markets in middle east,UK, North America is all up for grabs for Dhoom 3...
Its better for Waar Producers to release DVD and make some money out of it...
Before someone puts a good pirated print on the net....

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Waar should have been released much earlier....
Now that Dhoom 3 is releasing this weekkk...
The collections for waar is gonna dry up....
The markets in middle east,UK, North America is all up for grabs for Dhoom 3...
Its better for Waar Producers to release DVD and make some money out of it...
Before someone puts a good pirated print on the net....

This was what yr one of the sources was saying about Boss and Waar. But in the end Boss got failed with just 60 million and waar crossed 200 million from its revenue from Pak and is still going. I dont think international release yr movie will effect our movie as our will be watched by our expats there and yrs will be from yrs. And if u watch this movie's trailers it is better then Dhoom 3's.......Heck it even beat yr Krish 3 after boss.

 

[Leader]

Side hero of Waar film..

He is a bureaucrat in real life, ASP to be if he didnt postpone his CSA training again...

 

[Umair Nawaz]

Waar hits the bullseye | GulfNews.com

Waar hits the bullseye

• By Faryal Leghari, Deputy Opinion Editor
• Published: 17:17 December 18, 2013
  
  • Image Credit: gulfnews archive
  • Shaan Shahid in a still from pakistrani movie waar
  
  
  Bullseye: That is what I thought of Waar hitting the target as the credits rolled out at the end of my first viewing of a Pakistani film in Dubai. The hype surroundingWaar, starring Pakistani actor Shaan Shahid, had been building up a considerable extent long before the film premiered in Dubai last Thursday. Its record performance in Pakistan, surpassing even Shah Rukh Khan’s Chennai Express, had everyone flocking to the cinemas to see what had turned the tide. And so the legend of Waar was spun.
  
  A packed house on a weeknight in the film’s opening week may not be the only barometer for how well it’s doing; what matters is the story, the satisfaction of seeing something worthwhile in those few hours assigned for the magic of living celluloid dreams in a darkened theatre, the emotions generated and of course the response of the audience while exiting. As for that, there were some very interesting comments to be heard. “Great job for a Pakistani film, good effort!” etc...
  
  
  So does Waar mark a turning point in Pakistani cinema, which has been struggling for survival, more so after the advent of cineplexes and the lure of the sirens from across the border? While Bol and Khuda Kay Liye (two movies I did have the pleasure of seeing at home, the latter also starring Shahid) may appeal more for their content and appeal to the intellect and for their ability to evoke awareness and empathy for issues that society has more or less swept under the carpet and failed to address, Waar strikes a different chord.
  
  The turning point is that it comes in a very slick cinematic package raising the benchmark for subsequent films for Pakistan cinema. Yet, it’s not all gloss for it succeeds in delivering a core message that resonates among Pakistanis by visualising their suffering at the hands of terrorism — a fact that is now part of daily life and has affected a wide spectrum of society, whether civilians or security officials at the forefront.
  
  Anti-state activities
  
  While the Indian External Intelligence Research and Analysis Wing’s (RAW) role in hatching sinister plots, instigating terrorist acts and brainwashing children in madrassahs by funding the Taliban may sound far-fetched to even some sections of the Pakistani audience, it is not something that is incomprehensible. A patriotic movie in Pakistan about a terrorism plot is hardly going to show Martians or even the North Koreans sneaking in from across the very penetrable Line of Control to carry out their dark mission or funding anti-state activities. Naturally it had to be the Indians as is the case for myriad Indian films showing the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistani militant groups allegedly supported by the ISI carrying out their nefarious activities in India. Waar does not need to defend itself on that account. But it would have fared better to pace the plot to uncovering the terrorist attack for the climax as the police academy attack was dealt with.
  
  
  
  Shahid’s role as a retired counter-terrorism specialist coming to grips with the loss of his family at the hands of the arch villain Rumal, played by Shamoon Abbasi, is convincing in the portrayal of the pain he goes through while reliving the incident. As an action hero he checks all the right boxes. The chemistry between him and Javeria (Ayesha Khan) could have been tapped into, surely lending a frisson of excitement to an otherwise all-action thriller. But keeping in mind his mission to foil Rumal’s plan to wreak havoc in the country and seek revenge for his family’s deaths, the budding romance was probably deliberately kept in check.
  
  As for the other protagonists, one was left yearning to learn more of visionary politician Aijaz Khan’s (Ali Azmat of Junoon fame) relations with Laxmi, the RAW embed played by Meesha Shafi, the siren songstress who enthralled audiences with her rendition of Jugni and Dashte Tanhai in Coke Studio. She does play it raw with her earthy whispers and delight at witnessing the carnage orchestrated at her behest in the Police Academy, a bullet-pumping whiplash who can also tango with the devil (Rumal), a cold, ruthless player who has no qualms in disposing of her ex-lover Aijaz Khan and his pregnant wife.
  
  Comic relief
  
  Ali Azmat deserves more than a mention, playing the leader-with-a-vision convincingly, however his lack of remorse for cheating on his wife falls short in endearing him to the audience.
  
  The Taliban are there, the good and the bad, and of course it is the bad who prevail over the good. But temporarily. The ruthless Mullah Siraj with his long locks and kohl-ed eyes inadvertently offers comic relief with his punchline “Ao Kana” (“Oh yeah!”) before aiming his gun at the counter-terrorist forces and his mockery of his father’s death. But he also chills. The ease with which terrorist acts are carried out and how the naked power struggle among the militants impacts the security situation is well-depicted, to say the least. The police academy attack in Lahore is a chilling reminder of the tenacity, capability and lethality of the terrorists. The only jarring factor was the women suicide bombers in the attack. Not that women have not factored in suicide attacks in Pakistan, but two things stood out that could have been avoided.
  
  First, since when do two women, after having been handed their very thin muslin suicide vests and congratulated for their imminent ascension to heaven, calmly walk into the packed dining room of the all-male Police Academy and stand around with beatific expressions before blowing themselves up without being checked or questioned about what they are doing there in the first place? Second, the police trainees are sitting eating while a massacre is going on outside with gunfire loud enough to wake the dead from their eternal slumber!
  
  But then this is, after all, a movie and one can excuse an oddity or two since even in the best of Hollywood thrillers the most unnatural happenings are shrugged at.
  
  What could have been avoided and which has struck me, as a Pakistani, as odd is that the whole movie is in English with some scattered dialogues in Urdu. Why could it not have been predominantly in Urdu, even if it was aimed at an English audience — subtitles would have filled the gaps. The accents as well could have been done away with, why the highly Americanised English accents, the awful Pushto-accented Urdu by Mullah Siraj’s father, Siraj’s lack of a Pushto accent? But then the redemption came with Siraj’s “Ao Kana!”, my favourite line in the movie.
  
  So how does Waar fare? Despite the shortfalls Waar deserves a big hand. A more balanced narrative would fine-tune the gaps, maybe a debate between the protagonists looking inward at Pakistan’s role and responsibility in allowing things to degenerate to this extent would have raised the film higher. But this is something hopefully future films will incorporate. Waar clearly stands out and sets a precedent for Pakistani films lending hope that one could expect some good films coming this way.
  
  
  
  
  Don’t miss it
  Waar is now showing in UAE cinemas
  

 

[Umair Nawaz]

@Nav

So did u watch this movie or not?