Anyone who has watched Zinda Bhaag (2013), the critically acclaimed debut feature film by Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur, would certainly have sky-high expectations from its makers. Sadly, their sophomore cinematic outing, Jeewan Hathi, fails to live up to expectations and remains a disappointing jumble.
Saifi Hassan, Farjad Nabi, Meenu Gaur, Hina Dilpazeer, Samiya Mumtaz, Adnan Jaffar, Kiran Tabeer and Fawad Khan
pose for the cameras at the film’s Karachi premiere. The black comedy, despite a stellar cast, lacks depth and wit.
INSTEPREVIEW
Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur of Zinda Bhaag fame
fail to make a mark with their second feature film.
Anyone who has watched Zinda Bhaag (2013), the critically acclaimed debut feature film by Farjad Nabi and Meenu Gaur, would certainly have sky-high expectations from its makers. Sadly, their sophomore cinematic outing, Jeewan Hathi, fails to live up to expectations and remains a disappointing jumble.
At a time when local cinemas desperately need an influx of seriously good films to bring audiences to theatres (as Indian films are banned), Jeewan Hathi’s significance to local box office should not be diminished. Unfortunately, it’s the kind of film that most simply wouldn’t want to spend on.
Originally made under Zee Network’s Zeal for Unity initiative, the film is one of the 12 films made by 12 filmmakers, 6 each from India and Pakistan, and has been presented at several international film festivals. After screenings at festivals in countries like Canada, London and Holland, where Jeewan Hathi picked up rave reviews from audiences, according to its makers at least, the film has now made its way to cinemas nationwide.
The film tells the story of a loving, lower middle class, married couple, who appear on a TV show in a bid to win a gigantic flat screen TV. It highlights how the media industry operates and what brings in ratings.
From replacing an older woman with a young, good looking girl as a TV show host to recording the couple’s private moments, the film gives out the harsh but at least partially true message that media outlets can stoop to a deeply superficial extent just to rake in ratings.
With such a pertinent subject, one had hoped that the film would showcase a constructive and engaging narrative but that simply doesn’t happen. The script is abysmal and lacks depth. The dialogues and writing is weak and the characters, extremely shallow except for one Hina Dilpazeer who is perhaps the saving grace of this otherwise, less-than-effective film.
Though dubbed as a black comedy of sorts, the film’s humour doesn’t bring with it the barrels of laughter we thought it would. Ultimately those who managed to watch the film were also confounded by its length (among other things) which was unusually short. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that the most gripping part of this film was its trailer.
All this is unfortunate; it doesn’t do justice to the film’s all-star ensemble cast that includes names like veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah, the talented and versatile Hina Dilpazeer and Samiya Mumtaz and several others. If the presence of such fine actors can’t save a film, nothing else will.
Shah, who may have been the main attraction for some to watch the film, is handed a role that barely explores his enormous talent. With no significant dialogues given to him, Shah’s character is the weakest link within the narrative. Why he agreed to do this film, we’ll never know.
The only thing worth appreciating, apart from Dilpazeer’s performance, is the remarkable acting displayed by the couple, essayed by Fawad Khan and Kiran Tabeer, respectively. Also noteworthy: the film’s background score, particularly the song ‘Jhoot Hi Ki Loot’.
Not surprisingly, Jeewan Hathi received a mixed response from those in attendance at the Karachi premiere, which was held recently. While some enjoyed and appreciated the concept behind the film, other film critics (present at the premiere) were not too happy with the end product.
