Azaadi

Azaadi is a 2018 Pakistani action thriller war film, that was released on 16 June 2018. It is written, directed and co-produced by Imran Malik with his brother Irfan Malik under the banner of Pervez Malik Films. Based on the Kashmir conflict and the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the film stars Moammar Rana, Sonya Hussain and Nadeem Baig in the leading roles. Dialogues for the film are written by Wajid Zuberi, and the film has been distributed by ARY Films.

Cast

Moammar Rana as Azaad, a character based on the Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani
Mariyam Khalif
Sonya Hussain as Zara; a Pakistani-origin British journalist, Azaad's wife
Nadeem Baig as Azaad's father
Mariam Ansari
Ali Bilal
Erum Azam as Sheena
Ali Fateh
Samama Randhawa
Waseem
Zeeshan
Saddam ul Haque as Major Sunil
Omer Shahzad as Raj

Production

Casting

Danish Taimoor was originally cast opposite lead female Sonya Hussain, as the lead male character of the film. But due to the fallout with the makers of the film he was later replaced by Moammar. Pakistani television actress Sonya Hussain, plays the lead female role of a Pakistani-origin British journalist. Veteran Pakistani actor Nadeem Baig will essay the father figure role in the film who devotes his life to the Kashmir struggle and passes on his vision of struggle to the youth.

Development

In an interview with DAWN Images, director Imran highlighted that a film of such a big canvas has never been attempted before in Pakistan, and that the film had elements of patriotism, action scenes and a very powerful love story. The cinematography has been done by Ben Jasper.

Filming

The film has been shot in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas of Pakistan.

Music

The music of the film has been done by Sahir Ali Bagga, Jabar Abbas, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and Afshan Fawad. Singers Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Qurat-ul-Ain Balouch have also lent their voices for the soundtrack. Natasha Khan from Coke Studio was the audio engineer of the movie.

Release

The Film was released on Eid-ul-Fitr in Pakistan.

Reception

Box office

The film collected 64 million in its first week despite having tough competition from Bollywood movie Race 3 and three other Pakistani films including 7 Din Mohabbat In, Wajood and Na Band Na Baraati.

Critical reception

Omair Alavi of Samaa TV praised the film for its worthy cause, excellent cinematography, and powerful performances from Nadeem Baig and Moammar Rana, but the film's weak action sequences, special effects, lengthy first half, which damaged the overall impact of the film, inaccurate portrayal of Kashmiri culture and some unrealistic elements in the storyline were critiqued.