‘SKZJ’ aspires to stand out from the crowd

KARACHI: 

Where the local cinematic genres for the first half of 2015 tread along the lines of family and comedy, the second half of the year is expected to witness a spate of action films. With the much-anticipated Yalghaarslated to release later this year, and Waar 2 and Downward Dog already in the production phase, there seems to be no dearth of high-octane movies in Pakistani cinema. Exhibitors and audiences can now add another movie to this growing list of action movies, as the multi-starrer Saya E Khuda E Zuljalal (SKZJ) has entered the final stages of post-production.

The director of the film, Umair Fazli, revealed that although the producers had not predetermined the release date for the film. “The release of SKZJ depends on when it gets completed. It’s likely to release on or between Eidul Azha and December,” he said.

With only a trailer and a song having been released so far, the general consensus amongst audiences has been that the movie bears similarities with the slew of action movies being made in the country that revolve around the armed forces. Terming this a misconception, Fazli said the film was different from the current crop of action films. “Waar,Operation 021 and Yalghaar are all films based on events and military operations. In SKZJ, we have focused on creating an original story that will chronicle the journey of the main characters.”

Boasting an ensemble cast with veteran actors, such as Afzal Khan, Javed Sheikh, Shafqat Cheema and Firdous Jamal, the film will mark Moammar Rana’s return to the silver screen after a gap of almost four years. Fazli shared that the film’s producers had initially approached Shaan for the part, but due to scheduling conflicts, Rana, the director’s first choice, was roped in for the project.

Divulging a few plot details about SKZJ, Fazli said it’s a “tale of redemption.” The film will also explore the story of some of Pakistan’s greatest war heroes, such as Shaheed Major Aziz Bhatti and MM Alam, apart from also featuring flashback sequences involving Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

SKZJ follows the story of a patriotic father (Javed Sheikh), who after years of tirelessly serving in the army, gets nothing in return and stays in the same village. Noticing the mistreatment of his father by the army, his son (Moammar Rana) decides to take up a position in the police force and make an easy living by taking bribes. He ultimately realises the error of his ways and attempts to rectify his mistakes.

With Pakistani movies, such as Waar and Na Maloom Afraad, adopting a franchise-model, the team behind SKZJ hopes to follow suit. “We’ve left the back-door open for a sequel and to take the story forward from here but first, we want to wait and see how the film performs upon its release.”