KARACHI- Lights - camera - action. Let the show begin. After a hiatus of nearly a decade Pakistan film industry is on the roll again. This is evident from the activity and glamour generated by the first ARY Film Awards 2014 held the other day at the DHA Golf Club. It was celebration of the revival of Pakistani film industry. The filmmakers, writers, actors and artists who have been instrumental for this revival were honoured at the event, which was perhaps the biggest ever film awards held in Pakistan’s history.
It all began about a year ago when ARY announced launch of ARY Films a company that would support Pakistani film industry. Around eight films were released last year under its banner. It is heartening to know that at last our movies are going global as most of these films were also released in UK, UAE and some other countries. It was a good beginning as now the company has 25 films projects at hand. It decided to hold first ARY Film Awards 2014 as a platform to motivate the young blood that has been entered the field and come up with new innovative ideas in filmmaking.
The new face of the cinema was none other than superstar Shan, who has acted in 575 films and is spearheading the campaign for revival of cinema industry. The 43-year-old actor is acting in a number of new films and making movies as well. Shan was the main host at the event and opened the grand awards ceremony. Over the years his hosting skills have honed and now one can safely say he is one of the best. He was witty and humble at the same time, which is the sign of a good host. The respect he showed to all his senior artistes and colleagues was appreciable. But there was one thing that Shan should avoid in future and that is getting personal with some guest. His remarks about people working in India and abroad and the remarks by Ali Zafar to which Shan replied twice were uncalled for and should have been avoided. Shan
He was later joined by co-hosts: TV stars Fahad Mustafa, Hamza Abbasi, Sarwat Gillani and the pop sensation Ayesha Omar. It was heartening to see that all the audience gave a standing ovation to film legend Nadeem Baig when he came on stage to receive Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards were divided into 3 different categories i.e. The Viewer’s Choice Awards, Jury Awards and Technical Awards. The awards ceremony also featured entertaining performances by Amna Illyas, Khurram Patras on a song from their internationally acclaimed movie Zinda Bhag. Heartthrob Ahsan Khan and actresses Urwa Hocain and Ushna Shah danced to a medley of songs. Ahsan Khan’s grand entry from up above the stage with the help of a crane was applauded by the audience. Marium performed a song the upcoming movie Pura Chand. The handsome Humayun Saeed and the young Noman Habib performed with the sensational Mathira on a song from their popular movie Main Hoon Shahid Afridi. Young hearththrob Sheheryaar Munawar and the promising Sohai Abro danced on a song from the upcoming movie Kambakht. Film industry stars Saima, Noor and the legendary Babra Sharif also graced the stage and did special dance performances.
Fahad
Apart from these star studded performances the show also featured glittering line up of Award Presenters like Waqar Ali Khan, Saba Qamar, Sangeeta, Mustafa Qureshi, Tapu Javeri, Maheen Khan, Aijaz Aslam, Noor, Meesha Shafi, Yasir Nawaz and Nida Yasir, HSY, Ayaan, Sanam Baloch, Wassay Chaudary, Faisal Qureshi, Sunita, Ali Zafar, Mohib Mirza, Ayesha Khan, Nomi Ansari, Sana Bucha, Asad-ul-Haq, Zeba Bakhtiar, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, Syed Noor, Saima, Asim Raza, Iman Ali, Humayun Saeed, Humaima, Jawed Shiekh and Reema Khan.
ARY Film Awards were Presented by Nokia, Powered by L’Oréal Paris Total Repair-5, Refreshed by Tang and Brought to you by Pel and Tarang. The Hair and Make-up was done by the creative teams at Nabila and N-Gents, PR of the event was handled by Tehmina Khaled’s Take-II.
Speaking on the occasion Founder and President of ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal said “As far as films is concerned, I would like to say that it is our mission to take things forward one step at a time. Last year we presented some great movies and this year we are creating a platform where great movies will be appreciated. I think that Pakistan has lost many years as far as the development of the film industry is concerned so we must all join hands and take out talent of our industry to where the international films and global cinema stand today”.
Jerjees Seja, CEO ARY Digital Network said, “Another milestone is achieved by the Pakistan’s film industry with ARY Film Awards. It is a matter of pride for us that we are creating another platform to appreciate the talent of Pakistan and motivate the young and creative to make more films year after year and keep the ball rolling”.
The show which continued till late hours of the night also showcased the upcoming movies that would be supported by ARY. The cast and main crew members were introduced to the audience while trailers and posters of these films were also shown to the audience. Shan has brought rights of Indian film Arth. He is making the movie with new script and filmmaking techniques. Humaima would be playing the female lead in it. Waar 2 and film Yalgaar are also in pipeline. The trailer of film Jaleebi was also shown and its cast that includes mostly new young artistes were introduced. The show containing pure Pakistani content was a huge success and brought together all the ‘who is who’ of the film and TV industry. The initiative’s success can be gauged from the fact that a number of people have started thinking about entering the film industry. Famous designer HSY is planning to make a movie for which he has already started work on the script. Yes it may be hard to believe but he is himself writing the script and hopes to direct it too. Well he is not new to film industry. He choreographed and directed a song in the blockbuster Teray pyar mein in the year 2000. Shan and Zara Sheikh played the lead roles in the film. Actor Shamoon is making a film ‘Gidh’ for which he has signed Shan in the lead role. Similarly TV anchor Amir Ghauri is also planning to make a feature film and is also writing its script. Like them a number of young people in their conversation with this scribe showed interest in acting or being part of film projects. This renewed interest in Pakistani films is a good sign that good days are around the corner and our cinemas will once again be buzzing with activity.
Viewer’s
Choice Award
Best Film
Waar (Winner)
Zinda Bhaag
Main hon Shahid Afridi
Chambaili
Ishq Khuda
Best Actor Male
Shaan -Waar (Winner)
Humayun Saeed -Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Mohib Mirza -Lamha
Khurram Patras- Zinda Bhaag
Adnan Shah Tipu -JOSH
Ahsan Khan – Ishq Khuda
Best Actor Female
Amina ilyas -Zinda Bhaag
Amina Sheikh -Lamha
Aisha Khan -Waar (Winner)
Hareem farooq -Siyyah
Mahnoor Baloch -Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Best Director
Ismail Jillani -Chambaili
Meenu & Farjad -Zinda Bhaag
Bilal Lashari -Waar (Winner)
Syed Ali Raza (osama) -Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Shahzad Rafique -Ishq Khuda
Azfar Jafri -Siyyah
Best Supporting Actor Male
Hamza Ali Abbasi -Waar (Winner)
Noman Habib -Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Ehtisham -Chambaili
Gohar Rasheed -Lamha
Salman Ahmed Khan -Zinda Bhaag
Best Supporting Actor Female
Meesha Shafi -Waar (Winner)
Ainny Jaffri -Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Mahnoor Usman -Siyyah
Naghma Begum -Zinda Bhaag
Naila Jaafri -JOSH
Best Performance in a Comic Role
Ismail Tara- Main Hon Shahid Afridi (Winner)
Zohib -Zinda Bhaag
Best Music
Sahir ali Bagga- Zinda Bhaag
Najam Shiraz-Chambaili
Kami- Shani – Main Hon Shahid Afridi (Winner)
Amir Munawar – WAAR
Wajahat Attre -Ishq Khuda
Best Performance in a Negative Role
Javed Sheikh – Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Shafqat Cheema-Chambaili
Shamoon Abbasi- WAAR (Winner)
Mahnoor Usman -Siyyah
Naseeruddin Shah- Zinda Bhaag
Star Debut Male
Khurram Patras- Zinda Bhaag
Hamza Ali Abbasi – Main Hon Shahid Afridi (Winner)
Ehtisham – Chambaili
Ali Azmat -WAAR
Noman Habib – Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Star Debut Female
Amna ilyas- Zinda Bhaag
Aisha Khan – WAAR (Winner)
Amina Sheikh -Lamha
Ainny Jafri – Main Hon Shahid Afridi
Maira Khan- Chambaili
Best Independent Movie
Josh (Winner)
Lamha
Siyaah
Best Singer Male
Rahat Fateh Ali -Zinda Bhaag (Winner)
Abrar ul haq -Zinda Bhaag
Umair Jaswal -Waar
Technical Award
Best Action (Hasan Waqas Rana)
Best Background score (Sahir Ali Bhagga)
Cinematography (Bilal Lashari)
Best Choreography (Pappu Samaraj)
Best Dialogue (Wasay Chaudhari)
Best Editing (Bilal Lashari )
Best Story (MINU AND FARJAD)
Best Screen Play (Usama Khalid BUTT )
Best Special Effects (waar)
Best Make-up (Nabila)
Best Costume Design (Sara Ghandhapur)
Jury’s Choice Award
Best Film (Zinda Bhag)
Best Actor Male (Humanyun Saeed)
Best Actor Female (Amna Ilyas)
Best Director (Bilal Lashari)