This year has not been good for Pakistani cinema. Though the number of films released in the year increased, the quality was such that both fans and critics were disappointed. So, while 2016 was not a breakout year for cinema the way 2015 was, the coming year could prove to be better.
Aside from Haissam Hussain’s much awaited rom-com Balu Mahi and Umer Adil’s Chalay Thay Saath, one film that will also make its way to theatres in the first quarter of 2017 is Rafay Rashdi’s Thora Jee Le.
Starring a string of newcomers such as Rizwan Ali Jaffri, Bilal Abbas Khan, Ramsha Khan, Kasim Khan, Fatima Shah Jillani, Ahsan Mohsin Ikram and Salman Faisal, the film is slated to release nationwide on January 20, next year.
The trailer for Thora Jee Le, released last week, tells the story of seven college friends from different backgrounds whose lives transform as life takes a practical turn. Having parted ways after college, they reunite and embark on a journey together that tests their relationships and paves the way for self-discovery.
While the idea is not the most original and does hold similarity with the plot of Karan Johar’s hit flick, Student of the Year, it will be interesting to see how this coming-of-age subject is explored in a Pakistani narrative.
According to director Rafay Rashdi, Thora Jee Le, shot in Karachi and Larkana, is “a youth-based and heartwarming story” that viewers can relate to. “It is packed with lots of comedy and entertainment.”