'Parchi' screening in Saudi Arabia proves a hit

A jam-packed hall in the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh witnessed the screening of the first Pakistani movie in the Saudi Kingdom. According to Saudi Gazette, Parchi holds the credit of being one of the first international films to be screened in the country after the recent lifting of the ban on cinemas after 35 years.

Over 2,000 people attended the screening which had six consecutive shows. Producer of the movie Imran Raza Kazmi also flew to Riyadh for the premiere, which he attended with the Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Matab Bin Thenayan Bin Mohammed. The latter showed a deep interest in the initiative and expressed his complete support to the organisers for the event. “It’s a great initiative in accordance with the Saudi Vision 2030 and we assure our full support to strengthen Pak-Saudi relations in the film and entertainment industry,” he said.

Present on the occasion, Pakistani Deputy Head of Mission Dr Bilal Ahmed also spoke about flourishing Pakistani cinema. He said, “The Pakistani film industry is on a revival mode and a series of good films are the result of this renaissance. Parchi is a great example of it. Saudi Arabia is a potential market for Pakistani films and we pledge our support to promote every initiative that can bring up the soft image of Pakistan.”

Kazmi was also very ecstatic on his film being screened in the Saudi capital. He said that he was very happy with Parchi being the first Pakistani film to be officially screened in Saudi Arabia. “The experience of screening our film in Saudi Arabia has been wonderful and the response we have received from the people here is incredible.”

Viewers present at the hall also termed Parchi as a good sign of modern Pakistani cinema. “It is about time that we should get back to Pakistani movies as Lollywood is investing its efforts, finance and creativity in movies,” said a viewer. Another added, “I love the humour, acting, songs, direction and the cinematography of the Parchi. Overall, it is a good film that can be compared easily with any other international movie.

Parchi was released in over 100 cinemas all across Pakistan on January 5. Apart from being one of the first international movies to be screened in the Kingdom, Parchi will also be the first Lollywood movie to be released in France.

Parchi Weekend Business Pakistan - BoxOfficeDetails

Parchi has lived unto the expectations as Weekend has gone toward 2.9 Crore approx.

Film had opened really well on Friday and then saw solid growth on Saturday. Sunday has held well as Sunday numbers are coming similar to Friday.

Few places have fallen more than Friday but those places had opened strong on Friday! Film's Weekend numbers are little batter than Verna which had much bigger names attached but film has much favourable genre compared to Verna but still going ahead of Verna over the Weekend is very good result for film like Parchi.

In Just three days film has beaten Week One numbers of Furkey Returns which was also a comedy flick!

Below is film's estimated breakdown:

Friday: 90 Lacs
Saturday: 1.10 Crore
Sunday: 90 Lacs
Total: 2.90 Crore

Parchi Show Excellent Growth On Day Two - BoxOfficeDetails

Parchi has seen fantastic growth on day two with all multiplexes seeing big growth. Lahore and Karachi saw huge growth as few plexes even doubled there numbers on Saturday which is phenomenal considering day one itself was very good.

As per estimates Saturday is looking to end up close to 1.1 Crore approx which is a growth of 20+% over day one with day one itself being big.

This growth is very good sign and now film will probably go around 3 Crore for the Weekend which is brilliant result for the film like Parchi.

Film is on phenomenal run in Rawalpindi/Islamabad where it has done similar to much bigger comedy film Golmaal Again.

Lahore was average on day one but it saw fantastic growth of 40-50% on day two.

Below is daily estimated business of the film.

Friday: 90 Lacs
Saturday: 1 Crore
Total: 2 Crore

Parchi Rakes In Very Good Numbers On Day One

Parchi has raked in very good numbers on Day One! As per early estimates numbers are going close to 90 Lacs approx which fantastic result for the film.

Film has given industry the much needed big start. Numbers are phenomenal in Rawalpindi/Islamabad which has done amazing 17.5+ Lacs on Day One.

Lahore started slow but picked pace by Late Night shows !! Karachi/Hyderabad did really well too.

Film has been doing well in all metros but in mass circuits situation was mixed as Faisalabad did well but Multan and Sialkot under performing.

Film has made very solid base now and film will be eyeing crucial 1 Crore mark today!! Weekend is looking to go over 2.75 Crore easily with chances of hitting 3 Crore too !!

Parchi Premieres Held in Karachi and Lahore

Star-studded premieres of Parchi, the latest offering by IRK Films and Arif Lakhani Films in association with ARY Films, were held in Lahore at Cinepax Cinema, Packages Mall and in Karachi at Nueplex Cinemas on 2nd and 3rd January respectively. This movie has been the talk of the town since its trailer came out in December, followed by the hit song ‘Billo Hai’ which has the whole country grooving to it. 

The talented cast includes Hareem Farooq, Ali Rehman Khan, Usman Mukhtar, Ahmed Ali Akhbar, Shafqat Khan, Mojiz Hasan, Mahenur Haider, Shafqat Cheema, Salmaan Shaukat and Faiza Saleem. Written by Shafqat Khan, and directed by the Janaan director, Azfar Jafri, Parchi is the third venture of IRK films after Siyaah and Janaan that released in 2013 & 2016.

The story of Parchi revolves around a group of friends who find themselves in trouble when one receives a ‘Parchi’ from the gangster he owes money to, and what follows is a series of comical situations, and a full-fledged rollercoaster ride. It is a situational comedy that revolves around gangsters, and highlights the parchi system in Pakistan without any serious undertones.

“It is a surreal feeling to see people’s reaction to Parchi at the premiere of the movie. The entire team has worked extremely hard to make Parchi possible, and it feels amazing when you get such a good response from audiences,” stated Imran Raza Kazmi, the founder of IRK Films and the producer of Parchi.  

“I had complete faith in Parchi since its inception, and the rave reviews received at the premiere proves that I had put my faith in the right place,” stated Arif Lakhani, the co-producer of Parchi.  

“The last two months have been filled with back-to-back promotions, and I am completely over-whelmed with the love and support given by people.  Parchi has been getting great reviews after the premiere, and I hope the audiences will also like the movie when it hits the cinemas on 5th January,” stated Hareem Farooq, the actor and co-producer of Parchi. 

“ARY Films has always been committed to providing quality entertainment to its viewers, and I believe that Parchi will be a hit amongst the audiences with its unique storyline, and brilliant actors,” stated Salman Iqbal, Founder and President of ARY Digital Network.

“Parchi has proved to be a great start for ARY Films in 2018 as it has received a phenomenal response at the premieres. I am sure the movie will be well-received by the audiences nationally and internationally,” stated Jerjees Seja, CEO ARY Digital Network.

Parchi is set to release nationwide on January 5th 2018. Internationally, it will release in UAE, USA & Canada on January 12th, 2018 and in France on January 19th, 2018.

Here are some of the photos from the premier.

'Parchi' to be first Pakistani film to hit theatres in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia this month announced that public cinemas would be allowed in the conservative kingdom and the first cinemas were likely to open early next year.

“As the industry regulator, the General Commission for Audiovisual Media has started the process for licensing cinemas in the Kingdom,” minister of culture and information Awwad bin Saleh Alawwad said in a statement. He added that the first cinemas are expected to open in March 2018.

But here what’s got us excited! According to Arab News, one of the first films to hit Saudi screens when cinemas reopen next year will be Parchi!

The action/thriller-comedy starring Hareem Farooq, Ali Rehman Khan and Shafqat Cheema will be one of the few movies that will be screened for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

“We feel honored and proud that we are among the first, it’s pretty exciting and it is quite an achievement,” Farooq, also a co-producer of the movie said.

“We always aim to do something new and expand our reach, not just stick to Pakistan.”

The impact of going international is something Farooq is definitely looking forward to. “I think it’s proof that Pakistani cinema has international appeal, it shows that we are on the right track and that we do have a great future.”

In addition to commercial success, films are changing some of the conversation about Pakistan. “We always want to put Pakistan on the global map in a good light, that is what we work for,” Farooq asserted.

“Cinema is a platform that can change mindsets — it’s huge and plays a mighty role in our image projection abroad. All the world sees is extremism and terrorism, they don’t get to see what Pakistan is really about. We are as crazy and as normal as everywhere else.”

The fun track from Parchi, Billo Hai, has been well received, and already has more than a million views on YouTube.

The movie is slated to release on Jan 5 next year in Pakistan and the UAE, and Jan 12 in the US. Cinemas in Saudi Arabia will reopen early next year after a 35-year ban.

The Express Tribune is currently awaiting a confirmation from the producers or cast of the movie.

'Parchi' trailer is out and Hareem Farooq's looks could kill

KARACHI: With the plethora of Pakistani films releasing this December, we might just have to camp in at the nearest theatre. After Arth 2, Rangreza and Chupan Chupai, we have a new addition to the line-up.

Brace yourselves everyone, the Parchi trailer is out!

Needless to say, the cast of Parchi is huge. Favourites from Diyar-e-Dil, Hareem Farooq and Ali Rehman Khan, alias Arjumand and Suhaib will be seen beside Usman Mukhtar. The trio was earlier part of Janaan as well. The very handsome Ahmed Ali Akbar will also grace the screen with his presence alongside Shafqat Khan, Shafqat Cheema, Faizan Shaikh, Talal Jilani, Mojiz Hasan, Salman Shaukat, Mahenur Haider and Faiza Saleem.

Hareem makes an entrance that screams haseena atom-bomb and she looks perfect in that gangster avatar. She might just be overshadowing all the male-characters in the film.

Apart from the trailer, the film has also released its entire music album online and the tracks are mind blowing as well, as promised.

We hope it’s not too late to add another track to all your mehndi dances this season because Parchi might have just brought the best bhangra number sung by the famous Sahara and Nindy Kaur, titled Billo Hai. Hareem, Usman, Ali and Ahmed seem to have nailed all the moves. Thanks to Balu Mahi star, Osman Khalid Butt who is making a choreography debut with Parchi.

Here is the trailer:

Team 'Parchi' heads off to Thailand for post-production after the first spell

Parchi, an all out comedy, is being prepped up to enthrall the audience this fall. The crew of the film has flown off to Thailand to finish off the work on the first half of the film and according to co-producer Imran Kazmi, the first half of the film looks promising enough.

“We're going by the hashtag #ParchiWillBlowYourMind, and the way the first half of the movie is looking, we're certain it will,” mentioned Imran.

Produced under the banner of Imran’s IRK Films, they’ve managed to role in Mitesh Soni of Yash Raj Films, yet again, for editing. And just like Janaan, the final outlook is going in with great speed and without any glitches.

Speaking with HIP exclusively, Mitesh observed, “The way Azfar Jafri (director) has gone on about the direction, the work has become a piece of cake for me and the team to edit. Azfar has delivered excellently with what he wanted on screen and the way the Pakistani industry looks enroute revival, it will definitely come at par with Bollywood soon.”

“Mitesh's experience is amazing. The family has been into post production work for long now and the professionalism and industrial ethics Mitesh brings to the table, are an asset for the film. We've seen the first half and we're now working on the trailer and we're certain the audience will love it just as much as we do,” Kazmi said of collaborating with the acclaimed mainstream, Bollywood editor.

According to Mitesh, “The kind of reception I've received here since Janaan, has been wonderful. I'd say that this cross border talent exchange is definitely working for me because I'm dealing with entirely new ideas and creative minds. And I've gelled in well with the team here, which for me is more important than anything as it has given me the liberty to work on the film like you want to and of course to give it my best shot.”

The second spell of Parchi will begin its shooting from the first week of August. Only a few scenes and relative songs for the movie are to be shot. According to Imran, we can expect the trailer to come out mid-September, while the film is looking for a December release as he believes that two/three major films coming out together in a single month, creating a high buzz, which definitely benefits all the films releasing.

Parchi revolves around a bunch of friends who turn to an influential and dominating woman once in deep trouble. Starring Hareem Farooq, Ali Rehman Khan, Usman Mukhtar and Ahmed Ali, the film also introduced 11 debutants and promises a roller coaster ride!

Internet sensation Faiza Saleem takes a leap into films with 'Parchi'

There is the latest addition to the star cast of Parchi, and this time, its none other than our very own internet sensation Faiza Saleem; a woman we now relate to being synonymous with comedy and satire.

Faiza Saleem had been making quite some waves recently with her initiatives Auratnaak and Khawatoons, albeit only on social media. However, this cool comedy star has now decided to show the world what she's got and is all set to take her talented skills to the silver screen. And since she had decided, Faiza couldn't and didn't say no to the upcoming cinematic venture that's being put together by Azfar Jafri, Imran Kazmi and Hareem Farooq, the same team that churned out Janaan, a blockbuster hit.

Hareem Farooq, Ali Rehman Khan, Usman Mukhtar and Ahmed Ali will be playing lead roles, and Faiza has a cameo, yet a meaty one. So here's Faiza Saleem for you guys, telling us about Parchi, her experience with the team and of course what's next for this young soul.

Faiza told HIP that she opted for Parchi just because the team behind it was not only reliable but one that believes in quality content only. "The team and the feel of the film are two primary things that I really liked about Parchi. And so it happened."

Talking about her experience while shooting for the film's spell in Islamabad, Faiza added,"The entire experience has been very different. Fun but very challenging. There was this hour of waiting to say one line on-screen. But in the end, it really makes you value the work of those who have been doing films for so long."

Sharing about her days shooting with the team in Islamabad, Faiza did share how the team hung together after the shooting was wrapped up. The comic star also narrated a memory telling us how she had cut her finger during the shoot, making sure the film received her sweat and blood. "First day on set I was handed over a butcher knife for a scene. Two minutes later I had to slit my thumb with it and blood was gushing out. That was extremely embarrassing but everyone came rushing to help, especially Hareem."

On the professional front, this lawyer turned cool comedy star and now an actor in the making is swamped with live shows. The lady also has a television drama lined up and we're eager to see how she'll star in that one as Faiza believes in pushing her boundaries with every role that she's going to be taking up from now onwards.

Ahmed Ali joins IRK Films' 'Parchi'

The makers horror-thriller, Siyaah and one of Pakistan’s highest grossing films till date, Janaan - Hareem Farooq and Imran Kazmi, the brains behind IRK Productions have gone on floors with their third feature film, a situational comedy titled Parchi.

Being helmed by Azfar Jafri, we already know that co-producer; Hareem Farooq will be taking the lead as an influential and dominating woman alongside Ali Rehman Khan and Usman Mukhtar. However, the newest addition to the stellar cast is none other than the Karachi Se Lahore famed Ahmed Ali.

While we got a hold of Ahmed from the sets of the film in Islamabad, he told us that what completely sold him was the script. Without delving into any minor details of his character in the film, he tells us that we’ll see him play a rather simple character compared to the roles we’ve seen him essay previously.

“I was always someone who enjoyed acting; I never knew I would take it up professionally though. It was only after Siyaah that my journey began,” he tells us of his association with IRK Productions. “Imran and I go a long way; we’ve been friends before he even found his own production house. We don’t talk finances or execution; we discuss content and the creative aspect.”

He continued his praises for producer, Kazmi by saying that he hopes he collaborates with the filmmaker on more feature films in the future.

“Siyaah was just 2 days of shoot, but I see a fruitful relationship now that I’ve began shooting Parchi. I know I will benefit from him more then he will from me. In fact amongst the many reasons I signed Parchi was because Imran was the brain behind it,” he added.

In conversation with a leading daily recently, Hareem had revealed that the film revolves around three men who land themselves in trouble and seek help from the character we’ll see her play on-screen. While the title suggests the film might also have a political angle to it, Ali says the film is a feel-good comedy that will allow the viewers to take something or the other home.

While the first spell of the film is being shot in full swing, Parchi has left us intrigued to say the least. Most definitely topping our lists of 2017’s most anticipated local releases; stay tuned to HIP In Pakistan for more exclusive scoops!