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    Film Review: Parchi

    Written by: Momina Mindeel
    Posted on: January 08, 2018 | | 中文

    (L-R) Shafqat Khan as Bhola, Ali Rehman as Bash, Hareem Farooq as Eman, Usman Mukhtar as Bilal and Ahmed Ali Akbar as Saqlain

    Directed by Azfar Jafri and produced by Imran Kazmi and Arif Lakhani, 2018’s first highly anticipated comedy caper film, Parchi released nationwide on January 5th. With its engaging trailer, well-publicized song Billo Hai and exceptional choreography, Parchi was all set to take over Pakistani cinema after its release, except that it didn’t. With its uneven pace, weak plot and average acting for the most part, Parchi turned out to be just a tad better than its preceding disaster; Rangreza.

    Hareem Farooq as Eman

    Hareem Farooq as Eman

    Parchi revolves around four friends – Bash (Ali Rehman Khan), Bilal (Usman Mukhtar), Saqlain (Ahmed Ali Akbar) and Bhola (Shafqat Khan) - who share an apartment in a relatively depressed area of Islamabad. Problems arise after Bash (Ali Rehman Khan), receives a parchi from a powerful local gangster Zodiac (Shafqat Cheema), demanding that he either pay 50 lakhs in 4 days or lose his life. In this quandary, the four friends seek Eman’s (Hareem Farooq) help, a mysterious, thuggish yet bold woman who they find through a chaiwala in their vicinity. Eman joins their group and the rest of the story is a mish mash of their efforts to gather money and escape their doomed fate. Although every character has its own identity, unfortunately some characters including Eman and Saqlain aren’t well-developed. While it is refreshing to see a woman in a role as intrepid as Hareem’s, lack of adequate context on her thuggish background leaves the viewers feeling very confused.

    Hareem Farooq as Eman, Ahmed Ali Akbar as Saqlain, Ali Rehman Khan as Bash, Shafqat Khan as Bhola and Usman Mukhtar as Bilal

    (L-R) Hareem Farooq as Eman, Ahmed Ali Akbar as Saqlain, Ali Rehman Khan as Bash, Shafqat Khan as Bhola and Usman Mukhtar as Bilal

    Although the movie is laced with clichéd jokes, and the transition from one sequence to another is uneven, there are a few genuinely great things that need to be highlighted. The chemistry between the two brothers, Bash and Bilal, is an honest reflection of a brotherly relationship, and the two put on stellar performances as far as their acting is concerned, with Usman Mukhtar outshining the main hero Ali Rehman Khan by a few points. The songs Imagine and Billo Hai are beautifully choreographed, and punctuated with some really witty moments. The overall cinematography is also commendable, and it is courageous of Azfar Jafri to experiment with a new genre that has not really been tried before in Pakistan. However, the good aspects get lost in the poorly written script and bumpy pace. Parchi is just one of those films that are easily forgotten on account of their mediocrity.

    Bilal's boss is killed for not taking his parchi seriously

    Bilal's boss is murdered

    Coming to Faiza Saleem, who plays the role of Saqlain’s lover’s mother, the character was supposed to be gutsy and witty, but unfortunately, it was neither. Similarly, Shafqat Cheema as Zodiac, falls short of the characteristics a powerful antagonist is supposed to embody. Moreover, the romance between Eman and Bish is not only poorly developed, it also fails to evoke any feelings in the audience regarding what is one of the most important aspects of the plot. Amidst all this, another egregious aspect of the film needs to be highlighted. While the first half of the film moves ponderously, the second half is fast paced. Half of the audience loses its interest even before the movie reaches intermission, and consequently, the second half is overshadowed by its dull predecessor.

    Shafqat Cheema as Zodiac, Ali Rehman Khan as Bash, Hareem Farooq as Eman

    (L-R) Shafqat Cheema as Zodiac, Ali Rehman Khan as Bash, Hareem Farooq as Eman

    All in all, I give the movie 3 out of 5 stars, mainly because trying out a new genre is a commendable feat in itself. Besides, Usman Mukhtar and Ali Rehman Khan succeeded in saving the movie from meeting Rangreza’s fate with their laudable performances. The two, given the right opportunity, can definitely become Lollywood’s next big names.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021