Reportedly the most expensive Pakistani film ever made, hits international markets. It is a familiar family revenge saga.
Pakistani filmmaker Bilal Lashari’s second feature, The Legend of Maula Jatt, may be about the creation of folk-fantasy hero Maula Jatt, Fawad Khan. But it’s the true story of Noori Nutt, Hamza Ali Abbasi alongside him.
Despite the clichéd visual style of cloaking all the bad characters in black and the good characters in white. Lashari’s direction refreshes the influential Pakistani classic Maula Jatt (1979).
Pakistani TV dramas are immensely popular worldwide. Hence, Lollywood is struggling with a few exceptions like Lashari’s Waar and Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda k Liay & Bol.
The Legend of Maula Jatt is notable game-changer for Pakistani Film industry. Especially with its worldwide theatrical release except India, the biggest ever for a Pakistani film. It is hopeful leading to a healthy future for Lollywood.
That is one of the most expensive Pakistani films of all time i.e. Rs.50-60 crores. It is characterized by lavish frames, elaborate sets, detailed production design and screen play with light and shadow.
The fight sequences, duels and swordplay are choreograph as brilliantly as the dance set pieces. Lashari plays most of the important roles behind the camera, including writing, cinematography and editing. He retains the basic force in the rural story but reinvents it as a sprawling epic fantasy.
Film story starts when young maula sees his parents killed by rival clansmen, Natt family. Despite being raised by a foster mother who prioritizes him over her biological son, Maula can’t shake the nightmares of that bloody night.
Ultimately, the pride fighter must step out of his everyday arena, harness his simmering rage and play havoc on the oppressors with his legendary gandasa (an enormous axe-like weapon).
Personal revenge drives Maula Jatt to transform it into a righteous, humane quest for justice.
Fawad Khan, with much of his face cover in hair, far from his usual much-loved sophisticated persona.
There’s a gladiatorial touch to his very first scene -“entry”in the screen. Fawad entry in the frame cheers the audience.
Mahira Khan, his beloved plays the role of childhood sweetheart Mukkho. Apart from a moment under the stars, where they sing together on top of a rickety Ferris wheel, the famous on-screen romance doesn’t shine as usual.
It’s Hamza Ali Abbasi as Noori, and his evil siblings Daaro Natni (Humaima Malik) and Maakha Natt (Gohar Rashid) who entertain in the frame with their perverse ways.
Humaima’s character, Daaro is bold, beautiful & brutal women which she plays with dexterity.
Mooda, Faris Shafi is playing the role of Maula’s sworn brother. His character spreads humor on the screen.
What is interesting is how the traditional taste of the story remains despite the visual splendor.
The dialogue of the film has rhetorical flourishes. The light humor entertains its viewers. The overall conversations and confrontations are stylish.
Before watching, i was wondering how Punjabi would sound from the actors. However, it feels nice to the ears.
The dark-eyed sinister Noori has ironic catchphrase- ‘Soniya’ (‘Dear’) – which he flips on his enemies in an evil style. Also his distinguished phrase نواں آیا اے سوہنیا
Then there’s the constant bloodshed that any slasher film would be proud of.
Maula Jatt & Noori Natt encounter ends at the obvious accomplishment of hero.
The screen raps with Maula Jatt traditional dialogue “maule nu maula na marray te maula nai marda.”
The Legend of Maula Jatt is over all an entertaining film which will change the fate of Lollywood. In fact it is more better to say that it has changed.
The director did not add even a single song in the movie to continue with the tempo & the taste without distracting audience attention.
The Legend…is an example of best technology, set, screen play & editing in Pakistani film industry. We should appreciate the team efforts. Its a complete action based film.
Production Company: Encyclo Media, Lashari Films, AAA Motion Pictures
Director: Bilal Lashari, Ali Murtaza, Amara Hekmat
Writer: Nasir Adeeb
Cinematography: Bilal Lashari
Production Design: Namsa Abbasi, Hamza Bajwa
Editing: Bilal Lashari
Original Music: Sarmad Ghafoor
Main Cast: Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Hamaima Malik, Gohar Rashid, Nayyar Ejaz, Ali Azmat, Raheela Agha & Shafqat Cheema
Read also: ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ is first Pakistani film to earn Rs.80 crore in first week