Ho Mann Jahaan

I truly believe that there is nothing better to alleviate stress of any and all kinds then watching a good movie, for some time now Pakistani cinema has seen some sort of a resurgence, not only in terms of the market share and the bragging rights but also in terms of the quality of the films. The trend was started by Khuda Kay Liye, then came Bol and the trickle down effect has seen the local talent from directors, producers to the many up and coming actors both male and female come to the fore and churn out unexpected hits that not only resonate with our culture but are appreciated abroad as well. I was cautiously optimistic going in for Ho Mann Jahan, the film had everything going for it from tremendous marketing with a tie in with the marketing juggernaut that is the brand Coca Cola, to a very talented though somewhat underrated cast. The many vignettes on TV commercials seemed very promising, little did i know that the film will completely blow my expectations out of the water.

It won't be an understatement to say that this is a modern classic by all accounts and i am not saying this because i am a Pakistani, you have to see the film to understand how beautifully its crafted. First and foremost, the three main actors: Mahira Khan, Adeel Hussain and Sheheryar Munawar deserve huge props for their performances, each embodied their character and were pulling out all the stops and seemed to be living their roles. The ever present Bushra Ansari was great as usual and even the cameos by Hamza Ali Abbasi, Zoheb Hassan and Fawad Khan were very welcome and never seemed to be just filler with no substance. The film being a musical had to have good music and although i didn't like every song in the movie, its safe to say that it caters to a variety of tastes in music and does have something for everyone, although Atif Aslam's solo number 'Dil Kare' seemed to stand out amongst others.

The cinematography was superb, there were scenes where the relative newcomers were outclassing the veterans and were pushing all the right buttons to generate a reaction from the audience. The narrative of the film revolves around friendship and so it has its fair share of variety when it comes to plot twists and memorable moments. I was especially impressed by Sheheryar Munawar's performance, he seemed such a natural in his role and it seems that sky is really the limit for his future. Mahira was looking ravishing but that doesn't mean that she was all eye candy, this was probably her most complete performance yet. Adeel Hussain did a very commendable job as well. To conclude, this is a film that simply can't be missed by a Pakistani cinema goer, as for the audiences abroad, if u want to see a film that is representative of Pakistan through and through; packs a punch and is thoroughly entertaining from start to finish without relying on silly item numbers, you can't do much better than this.

All in all, Ho Mann Jahan was an enjoyable watch. Although the movie seemed relatively flat at the beginning, as the story develops, so does the audience's interest. The direction and story line were decent. Unlike Bin Roye, the movie had great flow between scenes and looked appropriately edited. The songs were unique and the theme well played out. The three main actors, Adeel Hussain, Mahira Khan, and Shehreyar Munawwar acted extremely well, so much that some scenes became real tear-jerkers, however some of the older and more mature actors did not act with such finesse.

Ho Mann Jahan was a great attempt by Pakistani cinema and is definitely a must-watch. Although some aspects of movie-making are still lacking and there is always room for improvement, Pakistani cinema has definitely taken a huge step forward with this movie.

Ho Mann Jahaan is coming of age film which tackles youth problems; their emotions, their relationships and does it quite well... Starting from acting department everyone did great. The main cast stands out and everyone does exceptionally well. Sheryar Munawar becomes the star of the show and plays his character very well. Mahira Khan gives another beautiful performance and Adeel Hussain played this character extremely well . I was amazed to see Sonya Jehan play her character with certain kind of subtlety . Well I have already praised Asim but if have a problem with Asim its his writing which left alot of things a bit confused. One thing which film tackles is society's continuous reference of religion in pursuing certain professions like music in the film but if your religion does not stop you from pursuing certain professions then where the hell were references in the film so the makers could satisfy their audiences which was supposedly the main theme which this film tried to tackle and the film could have been a little shorter. This is a testament to the fact that our films lack smooth editing.. The music is like a breath of fresh air which makes the film's long runtime bearable and enjoyable for you.. For all its flaws, Ho Mann Jahaan feels like a film (finally) and I am very happy that Asim gave this beautiful film to the industry...

Excellent movie revolves around the emotions, love, Music, Friendship and university life with positive message. So Refreshing theme. I must recommend everyone to watch this movie, Pakistani Cinema working hard showing real image of Pakistan. The movie explains the great message of life to take the decision they want. Great Work!.

Love the friends concept. Jiggars through thick and thin and then the classic love triangle. Powerhouse performances by Sheryar Munawar, Mahira Khan and Adeel. Loved the songs too.