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Review: Janaan has many virtues but painting an accurate portrait of Swat isn't one

Review: Janaan has many virtues but painting an accurate portrait of Swat isn't one

The film sets up a visual treat, but loses out on the plot
12 Sep, 2016

Janaan’s story unfolds in Swat and the mountains have never looked more scenic; undulating in emerald hues, looming over scenic lakes and pastures striped in yellow and green. The family home, that is central to the movie, has an exquisite affluence, replete with wooden carvings, traditional embroidered upholstery, antique doorways and balconies with breathtaking views. Add to this a multi-colored wedding, fireworks in the night sky and effusions of fairy lights and you end up with a movie that has gorgeous aesthetics.

One wishes that this attention to detail had been extended to the plot, the soundtrack, the styling and in many cases, the acting. There were some elements that worked in Janaan – but so many more that didn’t.

The plot is standard romantic movie fare: anglicized girl, complete with accent and a perpetual blow-dry, returns to her ancestral Pakhtoon home; she gets wooed by two of her cousins and falls in love with one and remains just friends with the other. And as the two protagonists stumble their way to finding love, they truss up and dance at a family wedding, brood through in-house politics and the hero comes head to head with a villain with evil designs on the innocent.

With better direction, this story could have been riveting. For instance, the love triangle between Armeena Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan could have been pepped with more angst, better punchlines and a poignant soundtrack. Aside from the very melodious title track Janaan and the Pashto Reidi Gul, there wasn’t really any memorable music in the movie.

Luckily, the acting served as the saving grace to some extent. Bilal epitomized the handsome hero to the tee and aside from a few stilted scenes, acted well. Ali, meanwhile, played well into the limelight, delivering multiple witticisms and switching effortlessly from comedy to heavy duty emotions. Amongst the lead triad, he was easily the most comfortable in front of the camera and the best scenes in the movie invariably featured him.

Moving on to the actors' wardrobes, the boys dressed so well; in fitted shalwar kameez with waistcoats, suits and smart-casual shirts. In contrast, Armeena Khan dressed up a bit too much. For someone so pretty, it is perplexing why the actress insists on being swathed in make-up every time she acts in a movie. It is also unfathomable why the movie’s stylists chose to dress Armeena – and the other female characters – in blingy wedding wear at all times, even when they were at home watching a movie.

As the lead actress, Armeena plays the girl next door character well but lacks the screen presence and skill to develop nuances to her role and make it more interesting. In contrast, some of the supporting cast stood out: particularly Ajab Gul and Nayyar Ejaz as the sinister villain.

Other things that don’t make much sense: why does producer Hareem Farooq make a guest appearance only to disappear immediately afterwards without any explanation? Also, the Pakhtoon family is a bit too glossy to be believable, setting paper lanterns into the air, orchestrating grand fireworks and grooving onto the mehndi dance floor. Given that the movie is also releasing internationally, audiences unfamiliar with Swat may end up assuming it to be a vibrant, thriving metropolitan hub rather than a resort-town ensconced away in the mountains. There is a dire need for better editing and crisper, more lucid storytelling.

So should one watch Janaan at all? One could. It may be a bit over-long but there are also some definite entertaining bits. Ali Rehman and Bilal Ashraf make the story work. There are funny instances such as Ali’s character’s obsession with Facebook, the jibes at overuse of Botox and the grandmother telling the prospective non-Pakhtoon groom to try to get fairer by using Zubaida Apa’s whitening soap.

Of course, one should also watch Janaan out of patriotism, for the revival of cinema and what-not. In retrospect, if the movie had released a few years earlier, one would have applauded it for its efforts and the sheer beauty of Pakistan captured on-screen. But Janaan has come at a time when Pakistani cinema is fast coming into its own; where a Moor has captured love for the motherland, a biographic Shah has captured the world of boxing, a Jawani Phir Nahi Ani has rollicked and a Na Maloom Afraad has played with social satire.

Janaan is also releasing at a time when the competition is tough, sharing cinema space with Bollywood big banners and a much-touted promising release like Actor in Law.

Faced with such heavy duty contenders, Janaan may find it difficult to last the long haul.

Comments

Maha Sep 12, 2016 01:02pm
Also why did Bilal run into the house that was on fire and come back alive .. Why did he junp even
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RI Sep 12, 2016 02:08pm
Thanks for the review. Next time, kindly dont mention the funny instances or dialogues. I wonder whats left for me to watch now...
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Yousefzai Sep 12, 2016 04:04pm
We will watch it anyway, I have never seen a Pakistani reviewer giving a positive or at least an encouraging review about a Pakistani movie.
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Rashid Sep 12, 2016 04:07pm
Not many watch this film as an authentic documentary on swat, it is a commercial film which are seldom an accurate depiction of the area they are shot in. In July a film Revenge of the Worthless was released also shot in Swat which has shown the insurgency of Swat and the area affected by terrorism in detail. Any one interested in seeing that picture of Swat can opt to watch Revenge of the Worthless. The producers of the film should be applauded for making a film on a normal pakhtoon family and it is not based on terrorism. Otherwise in recent times any film with a pakhtoon character has terrorism as the main subject.
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Patriotic Girl Sep 12, 2016 05:49pm
Hi, Im sorry but your review is so boring. If i wanted to see swat i can see a documentary. I went to watch it first day first show and i loved it!! Yes it has flaws but i still loved it..... the cinematography , songs clothes etc everything was great. It is a great effort.
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murtaza Sep 13, 2016 01:19am
its a nice movie ...do watch it.....review is negative....moor and jannan cannot be compared.....both are of different genre....its a nice,family , commercial entertainer...
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Syed Abbas Sep 13, 2016 02:00am
I think it's still a learning phase but I didn't have very good hopes about movie plot. Camera work and dresses look very fine. I think we will get there soon.
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Zubi Khan Sep 13, 2016 09:23am
I watched the film in San Francisco but probably watched another film compared to the ugly review. Granted it was not a blockbuster with item dances and music to please every year, the Americans and Indians were thrilled at the quality of production and were laughing as the movie was sub-titled in English! Pakistani film critics are not reviewers and they compare Pakistani films to Bollywood and Hollywood forgetting these industries had a huge lead. Not every Pakistani film will-be a blockbuster but no credit is given to these film makers that are making these films without any technical institute or financial sustenance and that there does not exist any promotion of these films by any major distribution so there just go its a great family film>!
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Aamer Sep 13, 2016 12:17pm
I didn't like this movie Especially the male actors. Armina Rana is beautiful but she is very short reminds me of Babra Shareef of the 80's and Madiha Sha of the 90's. It is a well made movie but it was not strong enough but far better than what they used to produce way back in the 90's. The one to watch is Actor in Law. I saw it last night and just loved it. Fahad Mustafa and Mahvish Hayat are the best.
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Alan walters Sep 14, 2016 12:35pm
@Aamer I watched both. Actor in law is absolute crap compared to Janaan. In fact it's so bad that it has bombed in the European cinemas. Closed. Janaan is riding high in top 10. Actor in law is for the cheapesters whereas Janaan is for the cool crowd. Very simple really.
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Oh yeah Sep 14, 2016 12:45pm
We should do what they do in India; shoot the entire movie in Santorini and pretend it's Pakistan. Maybe the writer needs to stop looking for his 'Bollywood' moments in a Pakistani film. Raise your standards please.
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Hina Sep 14, 2016 02:36pm
Watched the film yesterday excellent pakistani movie i hardly go out to cinemas but this film was worth watching. Every actir has performed excellent. Good story beautiful scenery. Well done entire cast. Wouldnt mind watching it again.
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Haya Sep 14, 2016 05:40pm
Just came back from Cinema and couldn't resist writing a review. Its an amazing movie. A must watch. From acting to direction to music, everything was fantastic. Loved the cast.
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Haya Sep 14, 2016 05:44pm
An amazing movie out and out. Definitely a must watch. From acting to direction everything was fantastic. Loved the cast.
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Arisha G Sep 14, 2016 09:29pm
Most balanced review I've read so far - I enjoyed the film overlooking the (glaring) errors/mistakes above so as not to be too critical for a first attempt movie. Overall would give it 3, mayyyyybe 3.5/5
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AJ Sep 15, 2016 02:49am
The main highlight of the movie is Ali Rehman Khan. His acting and punch lines are just too good. Nayyar Ijaz is such a brilliant actor. Please do not mention the jokes in the review. It spoils the experience for those who lare planning to watch.
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Ali Sep 15, 2016 04:52am
@Yousefzai please dont :)
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Aamer Sep 16, 2016 01:27pm
@Alan walters Actor in Law is the most entertaining movie which raises the minor issues of the Pakistani society, there was nothing cheep about this movie (dont know if we are talking about the same Actor In Law). Fahad Mustafa did much better job than the 2 boys in Janaan put togather. Mahvish Hayat played a Parsi girl which was a different role and she played it well. Pluse we also had Om Puri and Nayyar Ijaz in the supporting cust. Janan on the other had is a well made film but its just a made up culture nothing to do with reality. In pushto culture girls dont dance in the presence of men.
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Khole Karsgain Sep 17, 2016 01:32am
The Pakistan Tourism department should pay the film Janaan a stipend as this film has raised travel questions for Swat. My phone in downtown Los Angeles is ringing of the hook as people want to know what travel plan and packages are available. But alas as you mixed up Pakistanis squabble about useless stuff there is little or no promotion of your country towards tourism. Then you wonder why we foreigners are not visiting Pakistan, talk among yourselves and figure it out!
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