Written by: Maryam Arshad
Posted on: August 28, 2018 | 
| 中文
Vasay Chaudhry as Sheikh, Humayun Saeed as Sherry, and Ahmed Ali Butt as Pervez
It’s rare to come across a sequel that’s better than the original, but Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 (JPNA 2) was a pleasant surprise. With the cinema hall jam-packed at 11:30 in the morning, I eagerly awaited the start of what would turn out to be one of the most humorous and entertaining Pakistani films I’ve ever seen.
The film begins when Pervez (Ahmed Ali Butt) and Lubna (Uzma Khan) travel to Turkey with their friends Sheikh (Vasay Chaudhry) and Gul (Sarwat Gillani), upon the insistence of Lubna’s brother (Fahad Mustafa). There, Pervez and Sheikh run into a very suicidal, Sherry (Humayun Saeed), who had apparently been missing for three years. We later discover the tragic reasons that led to his current state. The audience watches him recover, and launch into a quest for Selina (Kubra Khan), his new love interest. The movie takes you on a journey of one-liners, focusing on relationships and surprisingly, international politics. However, JPNA 2 is not for those looking for a strong storyline. While the continuous puns and quips are what keep the viewer glued to the screen for three hours, occasionally the humor was distasteful as well for e.g. Vasay Chaudhry’s dialogues about transgenders and cross-dressing.
While JPNA 2 focused mainly on Humayun Saeed, Ahmed Ali Butt’s notable performance brought it to life. He played an essential role in keeping the audience cackling throughout the film. Kubra Khan should also be praised, since she is an absolute natural in front of the big screen while Mawra Hocane as Fahad Mustafa’s love interest, also played a pivotal character. As expected, both Hocane and Mustafa added energy and depth to the film. It was unfortunate to see Sarwat Gillani go to waste, in a character which practically disappeared from the screen as the movie carried on, despite the refreshing role she plays so eloquently in a few scenes.
Surprisingly, most of the songs kept the audience bobbing their heads back and forth, as they ran their duration. The theme song, Tillay Wali Jooti, sung by none other than Arif Lohar and Ahmed Ali Butt, stirred the viewers the most. While the music worked its charm, the choreography seemed to be lacking in some songs. It was especially noticeable in the item song, Ishq Hua Jo Taari, where the dancing wasn’t in sync with the music, and the steps weren’t well-coordinated either.
Nadeem Baig has certainly come a long way since the first part of Jawani Phir Nahi Ani was released. He ensured that the Pakistani audience would relate to the film as much as possible, by incorporating humor related to present day politics, previously released Pakistani films, as well as some popular Indian movie references. Furthermore, the cinematography was brilliant since the film features breathtaking views of Turkey and the nightlife of Dubai.
Despite being a romantic-comedy, it was an ensemble film which worked in everyone’s favor, as the involvement of several actors kept the audience from feeling bored. This also ensured that all actors had their moment in the spotlight. JPNA 2 certainly exceeds expectations, given its poorly put together trailer and the fact that sequels are normally just long and repetitive. The film is bound to leave its viewers smiling as they walk out of the movie theater.
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