ove Guru (***), directed by Nadeem Baig and produced by Humayun Saeed, Jarjees Seja, and Shahzad Nasib, was released in theatres on Eidul Azha.

Humayun Saeed not only stars in the film but also serves as one of its producers, while Mahira Khan plays the female lead. Does the film live up to the colossal expectations, and can this jodi set the screen on fire again after a decade? Let’s analyse.

Mahira Khan plays a talented architect living in London, and she is the daughter of a billionaire, Javed Sheikh. She is set to marry a classmate from a rival tribe, much to her father’s disapproval.

He hires Humayun Saeed to break up this impending union. Although initially reluctant, Humayun acquiesces when the fee is substantially increased. With his team, he begins the groundwork and prepares for the operation. This is the basic synopsis of the film.

The story is painfully predict-able, recycling tropes seen countless times on the silver screen. A number of scenes appear to have been lifted frame-for-frame from Bollywood films. Most of the film is shot outdoors, and the sights of London as well as the scenic English country-side have been captured beauti-fully on celluloid.

Mahira emotes well, and is easily the saving grace of the film.

Humayun, on the other hand, delivers a disappointingly woo-den performance, with a near-constant expression that makes him come across more robotic than romantic. He looks as though he is sleepwalking through the entire film. As someone who has always been a fan of his acting abilities, this performance is a major letdown and extremely underwhelming.

More disappointing is the fact that there is no chemistry between the lead couple, unlike 2015’s Bin Roye, which is a major drawback for a rom-com.

Despite featuring seasoned actors like Javed Sheikh, Usman Peerzada, Annie Zaidi, and Marina Khan, the supporting cast is largely underused and adds little to the narrative.

Only Ramsha Khan, in her brief role as Mahira’s friend, and Natalia Janoszek, a member of Humayun’s team, manage to leave a mark.

The recycled jokes and the clichéd humour—especially the overdone Pathan track—leave a bitter taste.

Humayun fails to bring energy or charisma to the screen, and is overshadowed by Mahira Khan, who makes a real effort to get into the skin of her character.

The direction is adequate, and the screenplay isn’t as cohesive as it should’ve been.

The sets and costumes lend a rich look, and it’s evident that a substantial amount of money
(by Pakistani standards) has been spent on the production. However, the film suffers from pacing issues, and the second half should have been edited crisply, which would have significantly elevated the overall experience as a viewer.

The music is passable, with some songs needlessly added to increase the duration.

The exception is an Arif Lohar number, which was filmed in Dubai. It is well choreographed and works within the confines of the film soundtrack.

Mahira has evolved into a fine dancer, moving gracefully across the screen.

The choreography is satisfactory, and while most dialogues are tolerable, a few come off as forced and uncomfortable.

The positives are—that an attempt has been made to make a film that is at least visually rich and aesthetically appealing—and that, although extremely predic-table, it still manages to entertain in parts.

Ahmad Ali Butt is the surprise package, and when you watch the film, you’ll know why. His acting is nothing to write home about. The skyline of Dubai has been captured beautifully.

In other words, cinematography of Love Guru’s is a major high-light.

Fans of Mahira Khan should definitely watch the film; she looks fresh, and her acting is incredibly restrained.

She delivers a nuanced perfor-mance, a welcome contrast to the usual histrionics seen in past films. As an actor, Mahira Khan is growing with each role and this film is a testament to that.

Humayun Saeed, however, remains the film’s major dis-appointment.

At times, the viewer finds them-selves wishing another actor like Fawad Khan had been cast as the male lead. Humayun lets you down as an actor, which doesn’t happen too often. Overall, Love Guru is a good attempt that would have benefited from slicker editing.

–The writer is an educationist and can be reached at gaiteeara@hotmail.com.