Eid Mubarak. For movies buffs, this Eid recommendation is ‘What loves got to do with it?’ A romcom that gives you a good laugh, relives stress and keeps you engaged for 90 minutes. And this is an intentional diversion from tumultuous political circus, growing economic woes and indescribable indifference of Govt & establishment & people to the worsening situation in the country.
Few months back I stumbled into short video clips about this movie written by Jamima Khan. Straightaway, I was interested in the project. Jamima is the Diana of Pakistan. A level headed person. Heard her talk about Islam and it was brilliant, far better than many religious contractors. She claimed this movie would be her love letter to Pakistan. She also promised to show the brighter side of the country where she grew into a woman in a decade (from age 21 to 30 years) as long as she remained wife of Imran Khan. While living with extended family of her in-laws at Zaman Park in relatively conservative environments, she couldn’t get her head around the idea of arranged marriages. In west, falling in love was mandatory to take a relationship to next level i.e marriage. However, over time, statistically she got convinced that arranged marriages had better success rate than love marriages for the reason that parents know their kids best and they choose what’s best for them. Quite logical. Ironically, hers was the only love marriage in Niazis and it didn’t last. So she got fascinated by the idea of arranged cum assisted marriages. “You don’t have to start with love. You end with love. Over time, you grow to love the person you are with”. Kaz (Kazim (Shahzad) British born Pakistani origin hero of the movie). So much that when Jamima’s eligible girl friends in UK would discuss their marriage prospects, she would always ask them what their parents might choose for them and it worked in most cases. So it gave birth to the idea of writing a movie on the subject.
Jamima has adroitly touched on some real social issues of Pakistanis settled in UK. Raising kids in British or western culture is a daunting challenge. Parents are genuinely concerned about everything and kids are genuinely bewildered on identity issues.
Movie is a winner in so many ways. I had quit watching movies for nearly a decade now. But this one is different and likeable. Though, my personal favourite is Notting Hill in British ‘romcom’ genre for diction, direction, acting and soundtrack which I watched nearly quarter of a century ago and loved it. But Jamima pulled a top draw without champions like Hugh Grant & Julia Roberts. Above all, it was about Pakistan.
Not giving any teasers but the movie for its initial two third is quite funny. And the whole cast has to come to Lahore for wedding of hero Kaz & Pakistani bride, Maymoona (Sajjal Ali). This is where I started to feel bad. During wedding boys and girls in Pakistan are shown taking whiskey shots and smoking joints. My initial reaction of disapproval was based on two things. One that Jamima promised to show the brighter side of Pakistani society. Two: the movie was no different from local projects wherein movie makers also focus on petty negative problems of society like Kothas, Eunuchs or women rights abuses etc. I always wondered why couldn’t they show the bright side? Jamima was no different. Was she? When it all sunk in, I realised she was right and I was wrong. People in our middle class and above are actually like this. Crazy parties, drugs and alcohol is the new normal in this segment of society. We just have to be real about it and stop pretending piety where it doesn’t exist. Even in the movie, it transpires that everyone seems to be pretending. There is no harm in pretending, when you are being patient and trying to save a relation but it is extremely hypocritical to party privately and preach openly i.e قول و فعل کا تضاد۔ We all do that. Jamima has got this one right as well. Initially, I started fuming on seeing young boys & girls of Lahore partying in the movie like hell, I thought I shall write about this movie. Defend own societal values which after reality check, I couldn’t. Secondly, prove to the world that there were so many ills in western lifestyle particularly loneliness. The older you grow, the lonelier you get when you need more and more people around you, you die lone and cold death. Hats off to Jamima she even covered this aspect in the movie in character of Emma Thompson when she dubs next door Khans as her ‘village’. You have watch the movie to relate with situational subtleties of diction/ one liners.
Sometimes, we all need a break from stressful life routine and Eid break is one such opportunity to make the best of it. Incidentally, the movie ends on an Eid day and happy reunion of Khan family though some might have an objection or two on that as well which btw is ‘our National Character to be extremely critical and religious about others’. Whether, you watch this movie or not, have a wonderful Eid ul Fitr.
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