Films based on history have proved that when true stories are told well cinematically and entertainingly, then sky is the limit. Filmwala Picture’s latest outing ‘Khel Khel Mein’ is the first filmpost pandemic to be released in cinemas all across the country. The expectations are high and so are the stakes. So does it manage to engross viewers like the other patriotic films? Or does it fail in its endeavor? Let’s analyze.
First half of the film
‘Khel Khel Mein‘ opens in a prominent and high-class university where Zara Karamullah (Sajal Aly) plans to do a play on the fall of Dhaka 1971 that is scheduled to take place in the same city. The reason why Zara is emotionally attached to the play is because her grandparent got estranged in the liberation war. The principal Mrs. Haque (Marina Khan) and other board of directors strictly oppose this proposal. One of the high points of the film is Aly’s speech where she says, “There is only a single paragraph in history books about the war in 1971 that lead to the fall of Dhaka while there are long accounts of Mughal kings, their lifestyles, the horses they liked,” impresses the principal and they get permission to fly to Dhaka and participate in the play of the same name ‘Khel Khel Mein.”
Second half of the film
Fizza Ali Meerza & Nabeel Qureshi make the story as historically accurate as possible. The screenplay by the duo is very effective and impactful. They try to stick to the facts and dramatize them convincingly. The film doesn’t commence on a high note but grips viewers well. The characters are well established and the film gets better once it moves to Dhaka. The narrative goes back and forth in a very interesting manner. It picks up brilliantly and the climax point is arguably the best part of the film. Also, the recreated scenes of Dhaka, 1971 are super effective.
The direction
Direction by Nabeel Qureshi is impressive and he does justice to the film’s huge scale and historical importance. The subject material is explosive and his handling is exemplary. He dresses up his characters well, but most importantly, infuses life into them. Nabeel and Fizza’s dialogues are sharp, clap-worthy and acidic and add to the impact.
Performances
The performances are in sync with an ear-to-ground tone. SajalAli delivers a terrific performance and truly owns her character. What’s laudable is her precision. She never overdoes. When Zara cries, you’d cry with her. Bilal Abbas Khan showcases his acting prowess in both comical and emotional scenes. ShehreyarMunawar is excellent and leaves a tremendous mark in limited screen time. I wish to see more of Marina Khan and JavedSheikh. Veterans Samina Ahmed and Manzar Sahbahi arelovable. Naveed Raza shines in a grey role.
Yet, all said and done, ‘Khel Khel Mein’ is a gripping film that boasts of an important plot, exciting script, bravura performances, and perfect directions. It’s not just entertainment; there is something more educative over here. At the box office, it has the potential to grow with positive word of mouth and keep its makers happy.
Fahad is an entrepreneur and a marketing enthusiast who loves to write on trending topics. He loves travelling & playing tennis is what he does in his leisure time. He tweets @fahad164.
Email:- fahad164@gmail.com , fahad@themediaparadigm.com
