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    Film Review: 'Azad'

    Written by: Momina Mindeel
    Posted on: February 14, 2018 | | 中文

    Rehan Sheikh as Azad and Sabreen Hisbani as Jiya

    Before Azad, the new Pakistani movie starring Rehan Sheikh, Sanam Saeed, Sabreen Hisbani, Nimra Bucha etc., hit the cinemas, I, for one, had no clue that it existed. It was highly underpublicized, unlike other recent movies to come out of Lollywood. I entered the cinema with no expectations whatsoever (given the recent poor quality films; Parchi, Rangreza and Pari) but came out pleasantly surprised. Written and directed by Rehan Sheikh, this comedic melodrama is set in the beautiful city of Islamabad. With exceptional cinematography and stellar performances, Azad is the kind of movie you should watch while unwinding at the end of a long, tiring day.

    Rehan Sheikh as Azad

    Rehan Sheikh as Azad

    The story revolves around a Radio Jockey (RJ) named Danish (Rehan Sheikh), who goes by the name of Azad, who considers himself to be a truly free spirit. He doesn’t believe in sticking to pre-written scripts and is frequently reprimanded by his bosses (Sanam Saeed and Salman Shahid) for not following the show format. He often advises his listeners to let go of the past baggage in their lives, but no one knows that he himself has a failed love life. One day he encounters his ex-girlfriend Jiya (Sabreen Hisbani), who is in the city for a conference. Through their mellow and awkward conversation, which is punctuated with pregnant pauses, it is revealed that Danish hasn’t let go of her emotionally. They roam around the city until Jiya is picked up by her husband (Imran Abbas), who Danish didn’t know existed until this point. Now the RJ is left to confront his inner demons!

    Sabreen Hisbani as Jiya

    Sabreen Hisbani as Jiya

    Azad isn’t your typical, fast-paced comedy drama. Its slow pace and its gradual development of characters are, in fact, the defining characteristics of the film. It doesn’t rely on good looks to compensate for the lack of a good script and plot. Rehan Sheikh may have been missing in action for quite some time now, but he has clearly worked hard on producing a good movie with a well-written script. As far as his acting is concerned, he conveys the emotions of the protagonist in all their complexity, without becoming overdramatic. Salman Shahid puts up an utterly stellar performance, and his scenes are laced with genuinely witty moments. Sanam Saeed and Nimra Bucha, also, live up to the viewers’ expectations.

    Salman Shahid

    Salman Shahid

    With regards to cinematography, the manner in which the natural beauty and daily life of Islamabad are captured, is a feat in itself. The romantic mood of the film is made even more captivating through a well-timed and mesmerising film score, composed by Abbas Ali Khan. Each new sequence is accompanied by a new song. The songs sung by Abbas Ali Khan and Shumaila Hussain, in particular, steal the show. It is quite evident that Rehan Sheikh focuses more on the film’s content rather than spending on flashy outfits or item numbers. The simplicity is surprising at first, but doesn’t take away anything from the film.

    Sanam Saeed

    Sanam Saeed

    If you’re into poetic, light and meaningful films, go catch Azad. The pace might be too slow for a majority of people, but that’s what makes Azad the movie it is. It seems that Lollywood is finally venturing into films like Before Sunset from Hollywood or Dhobi Ghat from Bollywood.

    I would give the movie 3.5 stars out of 5 and would definitely encourage you to go watch it, but with no prior expectations or pre-conceived notions.


    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