mysteries , so much further to go ,” to which Freud responds , “ Please , we can ’ t be too careful ! We can ’ t afford to wander into these speculative areas . Telepathy ! Singing bookcases ! Fairies at the bottom of the garden ! It won ’ t do ! It won ’ t do .” A similar discussion on ghazal giant Mir Taqi Mir ’ s obsession with the moon sets the tone of the fi lm as various critics weigh in on this particular madness of the writer during a TV show . This doesn ’ t go well with Jamal ( Fahad Mustafa ), an upcoming poet who is watching the show in a coffee house and in a way similar to that of Jung , he questions this fi xation with Mir by making a live call on the show and asking , “ Why does Mir not see Neil Armstrong on the moon instead of fairy-like woman ?” So begins a fi lm that centres itself around the very concept of madness or vehshat , as the screenwriter interprets it , and uses it to propel debates such as that of the classical vs the traditional . Dr Kaleem ( Manzar Sehbai ), who leads that TV discussion , is the torchbearer of classics and a great admirer of Mir . He is the polar opposite of Jamal and , much like Jung and Freud , they too fi nd some sort of salvation in one another , whether they accept it or not . The genius of Sarmad really comes out when a very literary debate turns into a discussion about the deconstruction of the present-day human condition and how it gets infl uenced by the surroundings . The consistent tug of war between reason and emotion is what makes the viewer relate to Jamal ’ s frustration . Mah-e-Mir uses indulgence in art as an escape from basic existential problems and the artist ’ s inability to balance the two . Although the solution it provides is a bit dark and gritty for a viewer who has so far been fi nding his or her catharsis in Pakistani serials , it is nonetheless very honest . On a side note , Manzar ’ s outlook , too , has stark similarities with Freud . Perhaps , even I am fi xated . Magic The real charm of Mah-e-Mir , however , lies in the fact that , running for a little over two hours , the fi lm stretches but does not snap . All the visual references in the fi lm , such as that of the halqa ( circle ), the coffee house , the old bookshop and even minor things such as the Rilke book , were justifi ed within the context of the narrative . In terms of cinematography , it does rely too much on close-ups and at places the viewer is left wanting some breathing space , but even that works within the dramatic context of the fi lm : it runs down emotions ; hence , the focus on the faces . The fi lm also carries a very important message for other fi lm-makers : how to use fl ashbacks sparingly yet effectively . They didn ’ t seem repetitive and yet , always added some nuance to the narrative without compromising on its pace . Anjum and his actors deserve equal credit for anchoring the fi lm fi rmly . Manzar meant every word he said and felt every move he made only because it was clear that he genuinely knew what he was talking about . Top that with a gruff vocal texture and you ’ ll have the best example of method acting in front of you . Paras Masroor as Jamal ’ s friend , Ally Khan
MOVIE REVIEW as the ruler of the time and Huma Nawab as Kaleem ’ s
ex-wife appear for a short period but make every frame ooze with their dilemmas . Mah-e-Mir is one fi lm of recent times that has the right actors for the right roles , save for Sanam Saeed ’ s half-baked portrayal of Naina Kanwal . Moon The problems with the fi lm are both blatant and well concealed with the moon in the sky . Yes , the central issue with the fi lm is the computer-generated moon , an aesthetic choice that eclipses all the curiosity built around its very existence . With its visual implausibility , the moon never becomes for the audience what it became for Mir . Although Fahad has proved with this role that he is the most versatile actor of the new lot , at places his recitation of verses and lengthy Urdu monologues seem a little amateur for a fi lm that demanded total control and fi nesse . On the other hand , there were major issues of sound design as well . The attention-to-detail given to art direction was exactly what lacked with the sound design . And since the fi lm seamlessly switches between two very different eras , a wide range of musical instruments and a variety of sounds could have been incorporated to make it more dynamic . And lastly , do not follow the subtitles . They are misleading and incomplete . This adds to another point : those who fi nd it diffi cult to follow Urdu in its purest form might need some help from elders . Muse Whether you give credit to her makeup artist or to her natural looks , Iman Ali has proved that she is an absolute stunner . Her on-screen persona coupled with the lilted dialogue delivery is bound to inspire . Even when her dance moves weren ’ t as smooth as that of her fellow dancer , Iman ’ s role as a courtesan has a lot more depth to it ; her eyes speak of the dilemma of the woman who stands at the a crossroad of what she wants and what is expected of her . Between playing a woman who is so powerful that she can make or break a poet to playing a girl who has no will of her own , Iman has proved that , at the moment , she is the only complete package in Pakistani cinema . Music Music is one area where most Pakistani fi lms have lacked in recent times . However , with Mah-e-Mir , both Shahi Hasan and Ahmad Jahanzaib have delivered one of the fi nest music albums of late . The songs not only stay true to the story but also add character to the fi lm . Rajab Ali Khan of Azal fame gives a fresh take on Mir ’ s Yeh Dhoan Sa and his husky voice and acoustic arrangement make for a treat . On the other hand , Piya Dekhan Ko by Shafqat Amamant Ali is a personal favourite for it brings back the Shafqat of the Fuzon days ; a Shafqat who could sing as well with the harmonium as he could with a rock band . Shahi has come out of the closet in style and the grandeur of Piya Dekhan Ko will surely silence most of his critics . Verdict : Watch the fi lm with your friends and family . It is worth your money and initiates a constructive discourse
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