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Waar

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Waar
File:Waar film 2013.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBilal Lashari
Written byHassan Waqas Rana
Produced byHassan Waqas Rana Jameel Ahmed
StarringShaan Shahid
Shamoon Abbasi
Ali Azmat
Ayesha Khan
CinematographyBilal Lashari
Music byAmir Munawar[2]
Production
company
Distributed byARY Films
Mandviwalla Entertainment
Release date
  • 16 October 2013 (2013-10-16)[1]
Running time
130 minutes[3]
CountryPakistan
LanguageEnglish
BudgetRs. 200 million (US$690,000)[4][5]
Box officeRs. 200 million (US$690,000)(through the 5th week in Pakistan)[6]

Waar (Urdu: وار; Wār; pronounced [ʋɑːr], meaning "Strike") is a 2013 English-language Pakistani action thriller and drama film directed by Bilal Lashari, and written and produced by Hassan Waqas Rana.[7] The film features Shaan Shahid, Meesha Shafi, Ali Azmat, Shamoon Abbasi, Ayesha Khan and Kamran Lashari.

Plot

The film is a stylized depiction of events surrounding the war on terror in Pakistan,[4][8] including the attack on a Police Academy at Lahore in 2009.[9]

Major Mujtaba (played by Shaan) is a former Pakistan Army officer, who took an early retirement from the service. The plot involves a counter-terrorism operation being conducted in the Northwestern tribal region of Pakistan, lead by Ehtesham (played by Hamza Ali Abbasi) and coordinated by an intelligence officer played by Ayesha. Ehtesham and the intelligence officer come to know of a major terrorist attack that can only be countered with the help of Major Mujtaba.[10]

Cast

Production

File:Bilal-Lashari-Waar.jpg
Shaan Shahid during the film shooting

The film's title "Waar" is an Urdu language word meaning "to strike".[9] Waar is primarily an English language film with some dialogues in Urdu. According to the producer Hassan Waqas Rana they considered dubbing the movie in Urdu but dropped the idea as it compromised the lead role played by Shaan Shahid. It is reported to include four hundred visual effects.[13] The film that took three years to complete[14] is Bilal Lashari's debut as a director, who earlier has directed music videos[15] and assisted Shoaib Mansoor in Khuda Kay Liye.[16] Earlier it was reported that Tom Delmar who has worked as stunt director in a number of Hollywood movies would direct the film,[17] later Lashari was chosen as the director who was already working with Rana on another project. Ali Azmat and Meesha Shafi both of whom are known for singing are making their acting debut in the film.[16]

Casting

Originally Ali Azmat's and Ayesha Khan's roles were limited to guest appearance that were later expanded to full roles.[13] Hamza Ali Abbasi who intended to work as assistant director on the film was casted as an actor.[18]

Filming

Locations for the filming were reported in 2011 to include Lahore, Islamabad and Swat Valley. Scenes were also reportedly shot in Istanbul. The film is produced by Mind Works Media. Earlier it was reported that the film was shot in collaboration with the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of Pakistan Army[4] but the director Bilal Lashari denied any such collaboration saying that the confusion might have arisen as Mind Works Media worked on a documentary film The Glorious Resolve along with ISPR at the same time when Waar was being filmed.[19] The film is reported to be the highest budgeted film of Pakistani film industry with a budget of about PKR: 200 million .[4][5]

Reception

Release

The film's release date was changed repeatedly and finally it was released on 16 October 2013 coinciding with Eid al-Adha in Pakistan.[20] Earlier it was scheduled to release on 6 September 2013.[5] The first theatrical trailer of the movie was launched in January 2012[21] while the second in January 2013.[20] One of the trailers was viewed more than 500,000 times the same month, making it one of the top five videos of the YouTube.[9] The film was dubbed as the most anticipated film in the history of the Pakistani Cinema.[22] When the film could not make it to the screens in a considerable time after the release of trailers, the critics dubbed it as another project that will get shelved.[13] Shamoon Abbasi, the main antagonist, cited the lack of resources for filming as one of the reasons for its delay.[12] The film premiered on 10 October at Karachi[23] and on 14 October 2013 at Rawalpindi/Islamabad.[24] The film was given adults-only rating by the Sindh's provincial censor board for use of obscene language and violence.[20] Waar was released in about forty five theaters across the country.[25] The film was distributed by ARY Films and Mandviwalla Entertainment.[26] Earlier it was reported that the film would be distributed by Warner Bros.[4] The film is reported to be released in twenty five countries[14] and is all set to be released in the UK[27]

Critical Reception

Rafay Mahmood for The Express Tribune gave the movie three out of five stars and commended the cinematography, editing and sound design but viewed critically the story and some performances. According to the review 'Waar' is a "piece of pointless propaganda (and) is going to further confuse an already puzzled nation about Pakistan’s outlook on counter-terrorism. In the long run, it will prove to be a great feature for Pakistani cinema but a damaging one for intellect.[10]

Mohammad Kamran Jawaid of Dawn gave 'Waar' a negative review, calling the screenplay a "codswallop of instances taped together to form narrative coherency". He also criticized the film's English language, stating that "catering to the international market is one thing, but relying solely on it is either ignorance or arrogance". His review labels 'Waar' as a "'showy' enterprise." where the "story, the plot, the resolve – in fact everything – hangs on a failing thread"[11]

Salman Khalid for Daily Times talks about the message given by the movie that highlights the "Pakistani perspective on the menace of terrorism", while acclaiming the story, direction, action sequences and individual performances.[28]

Indian film director Ram Gopal Varma praised the film, saying he was "stunned beyond belief" and congratulated Bilal Lashari.[29]

Box office

Waar opened on the first day of Eid al-Adha on 42 screens, the widest release ever, across Pakistan with 100% occupancy and it broke records with capacity audiences. It earned Rs. 11.4 million (US$39,000) in its first day, thus breaking the previous record of Rs. 9 million (US$31,000) held by Chennai Express.[30] It earned a total of Rs. 42.6 million (US$150,000) till Friday night, breaking all previous records of Eid collections.[31] Waar collected Rs. 97 million (US$340,000) in its extended first week of nine days[32] and added another Rs. 37 million (US$130,000), thus making a total of Rs. 130 million (US$450,000) in thirteen days.[33] The film manages to collect Rs. 190 million (US$660,000), which, with turnover, pulls it just ahead of Syed Noor's 1998 film Choorian, which earned ₨200 million.[34] Waar officially became the highest grossing film in Pakistan of all time after it surpassed ‘Choorian’s’ Rs200 million mark at the box office on just its 36th day of screening.[6]

Music

The film's music that took almost two years to get completed is composed by Amir Munawar[2][35] while Qayaas and Umair Jaswal have contributed a song each.[10]

References

  1. ^ "It's official: Waar set for Eidul Azha release". The Express Tribune. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b Khan, Sher (23 September 2013). "Why Waar's music took two years to make". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  3. ^ "Four films to be released today". Dawn. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Biya Shadab (26 April 2011). "Waar: Pakistan's next blockbuster?". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Shoaib Ahmed (12 October 2013). "Waar to release on Eid". Dawn. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Waar is the highest grossing Pakistani film of all time". Tribune. Retrieved 23 November 2013. {{cite news}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Khan, Sher (9 January 2012). "Waging Waar". Lahore: The Express Tribune.
  8. ^ "Meesha Shafi joins Mira Nair's The Reluctant Fundamentalist". The News. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  9. ^ a b c Jason Burke (17 February 2012). "Pakistan film fans prepare for Waar". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Rafay Mahmood (11 October 2013). "Waar: All that glitters". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  11. ^ a b Mohammad Kamran Jawaid (18 October 2013). "Movie Review: Waar". Dawn. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  12. ^ a b Sher Khan (10 October 2013). "Waar: 'Girls can do action sequences, too'". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Sher Khan (6 August 2013). "Heads or tails: Waar to finally release this fall". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  14. ^ a b Annabel Symington. "Making a Big-Budget Movie in Pakistan". India Real Time. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  15. ^ "All set for the movies Pakistan?". The News. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  16. ^ a b Osman Khalid Butt (20 November 2011). "Making a feature film in Pakistan requires sacrifice". The News. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  17. ^ Hamad Dar (2 February 2010). "Hollywood is Here, Are You Ready for Auditions?". Koolmuzone. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  18. ^ Sher Khan (11 November 2012). "Hamza Ali Abbasi gears up for Kambakht". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  19. ^ Sher Khan (9 January 2012). "Waging Waar". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  20. ^ a b c Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui (16 October 2013). "Adults-only film Waar registers exceptional advanced bookings". Dawn. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  21. ^ "Watch: "Waar" trailer promises action and grit". Dawn. 2 January 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  22. ^ Sanaa Ahmed (28 January 2012). Tejpal, Tarun (ed.). "Does size matter in Pakistan" (PDF). Tehelka. 9 (4). Neena Tejpal Sharma: 52–53. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  23. ^ "Premiere of "Waar", the Film of Nation". ARY News. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  24. ^ "Out of the bag: 'Waar' finally hits twin cities' screens". The Express Tribune. 15 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  25. ^ Rafay Mahmood (16 October 2013). "Waar vs Boss: Shaan beats Akshay at screen space". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  26. ^ "People hold on to your goats! Waar coming this Eid". Pakistan Today. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Waar all set for UK release". The Express Tribune. 12 November 2013.
  28. ^ Muhammad Salman Khalid (19 October 2013). "Movie Review: 'Waar'". Daily Times. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  29. ^ "WAAR-struck: Ram Gopal Varma gushes over Lashari's blockbuster". Express Tribune. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  30. ^ "Waar beats domestic box office record with opening day take of Rs11.4m – The Express Tribune". Express Tribune. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  31. ^ "Waar scores biggest Eid collection in Pakistan – The Express Tribune". Express Tribune. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  32. ^ "Box Office history: Racing to Rs150m milestone in 9 days – The Express Tribune". Express Tribune. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  33. ^ "Pakistani film Waar earns approx Rs.13 Crores in thirteen days - AAJ News". Aaj.tv. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference arynews.tv was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ^ Agha, Saira (6 July 2012). "Amir Munawar – the music maestro composes for 'Waar'!". Daily Times. Retrieved 13 October 2013.

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Waar&oldid=583255748"