First look for Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zuljalal unveiled

This has been a summer full of teasers, trailers and film releases for the Pakistani film industry. Amidst fresh faces like Ayesha Omar, Sikander Rizvi and Bilal Ashraf are also Lollywood old-timers like Moammar Rana and Shafqat Cheema joining in the revival of the industry for the better. Post an action-packed trailer of Shaan’s war saga Yalghaar, fans get another taste of patriotism with the teaser of Umair Fazli-directed Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zuljalal.

Starring Moammar Rana, Javed Sheikh, Arbaaz Khan and Gia Ali, the trailer depicts the lives and sacrifices of the Pakistani soldiers fighting for their country, day and night and takes one down memory lane to the war of 1965 – a war that ended many a life and eventually concluded with a ceasefire. The trailer is in time for Pakistan’s Independence Day, however, there is not information as to when the film is expected to hit theatres. Initially titled Mission Allahu Akbar, the film also features Nayyer Ijaz and Shafqat Cheema in prominent roles.

 

Chris Columbus wants
to direct another Harry Potter film

Are you desperate for another adventure-filled look into Hogwarts brave trio of wizards? Chris Columbus is too. The director of the first two films in the Harry Potter franchise has expressed his desire to direct another Harry Potter film but not the one that is already in the pipeline titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Columbus feels there is more story to tell about Harry and his gang and he would like to be the person to do so. “I would love to go back and do another one,” says Columbus. “Not Fantastic Beasts as much, which I think is going to be amazing, but I would love to do another movie with those three characters — Harry, Hermione, and Ron. I’m just fascinated about what happened to them after the end of the last movie, because then they cut to 18 years ahead. There’s 18 years there of great Harry Potter stories.”

As much as Chris is willing, he still haven’t spoken to Rowling about this. “I don’t have the courage to actually mention that to her because I have such respect for her,” says Columbus. “She should do what she wants to do, but I really would love to know what’s in her head about those missing years.”

Fans would sure love to know too.

 

Box office success for the trilogy of Eid films

Running House Full: Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Bin Roye and Wrong Number have all resonated well with Eid audiences.

Salman Khan has been forgiven his sins. He must have worried how his May conviction and sentencing to 5 years in prison for a 2002 hit-and-run homicide might have dampened the prospects for his movie. But like India’s courts, the country’s movie going audience gave the megastar a stay of appeal, supporting Bajrangi Bhaijaan with the biggest opening weekend ever for Khan and the 3rd biggest in Indian box office history. According to cinema owners in Pakistan, the film has resonated just as well with the Pakistani public, threatening Ant Man with an early exit. The good thing is, local releases Bin Roye and Wrong Number have been running just as successfully as Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

“An extraordinary audience turns up over Eid and all films are running full house,” Film producer, distributor and cinema owner (Atrium in Karachi and Centaurus in Islamabad) Nadim Mandviwalla shared with Instep. “Wrong Number is doing better in Karachi and Islamabad has shown a higher demand for Bin Roye. But this is a result of marketing hype not content. The Eid influence remains 9 days, which we see in advance booking, and we’ll see full effect of all films by Monday.”

An interesting general analysis is that men are loving Wrong Number and hating Bin Roye, women are loving Bin Roye and hating Wrong Number whereas Bajrangi Bhaijaan has shown universal appeal.