After a long hiatus, theatres have finally begun showing signs of life as various local movies have been released, and we couldn’t be happier. Last year saw the release of Khel Khel Mein and Kahay Dil Jidhar that didn’t do too well at the box office. However, we were quite excited for the year’s first release, Ishrat: Made in China, especially after watching the launched teasers and trailers.

The action comedy has an ensemble cast and features the likes of Mohib Mirza, Sanam Saeed, Ali Kazmi, Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY), Sara Loren, Shamoon Abbasi, Nayyer Ejaz, Mustafa Chaudhry, and Mani among many others.

Recently the premiere was held in Karachi, which was a star-studded affair where we spotted the cast and crew of Ishrat as well as celebrities such as Feroze Khan, Hira Mani, Yasir Nawaz, Hira Tareen, Ali Safina and many others. This was followed by its release in collaboration with Geo Films on March 3, 2022, in cinemas across the country. We are already aware that the movie has had quite a difficult journey to get to our big screens. However, the movie, produced by Ek Alif & Eleven Eleven Films, which marks actor Mohib Mirza’s directorial debut, is an all-out entertainer.

Here are a few reasons why Ishrat: Made in China is a must-watch.

Comic relief

The story of Ishrat: Made in China, as the title suggests, revolves around Ishrat, essayed by Mohib Mirza. The film is a slapstick comedy that celebrates the idea of being different. It shows how Ishrat goes to China in order to fulfill his dream and how he faces off against the tyrant, played by HSY. Though it has a social message, the storyline could have been better. There was no focal plot and lacked depth due to too many innuendos. However, the nonsensical comedy with lots of action sequences is surely a crowd-pleaser.

Interesting characters

When it comes to the characters, both Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed have taken up comic roles after quite some time and it is pretty refreshing to see them in the avatars of Ishrat and Akhtar, respectively, especially since they have been portraying serious roles in the past. Besides, this movie marks HSY’s big-screen debut in which he essays the character of evil Master Mangshi and has indeed done a commendable job. All the characters have their own interesting tracks that are knitted together, but it is Mohib and HSY’s excellent screen presence that makes the movie worth watching.

Strong direction and great visual effects

What sets Ishrat: Made in China apart from other movies is the fantastic visual effects. A lot of VFX is involved in making the film that too at such a large scale. The selection of locations and how every frame is shot adds to the film’s appeal.

Though it is Mohib’s directorial debut, he has definitely done a remarkable job determining the look of the entire movie. Whether it’s the special effects, actors’ performances, or the locations, he has made sure to present the film in a way that would attract the audiences.