| Huey Tum Ajnabi | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Urdu | ہوئے تم اجنبی |
| Directed by | Kamran Shahid |
| Written by | Kamran Shahid |
| Produced by | Shahid Hameed |
| Starring | Mikaal Zulfiqar Sadia Khan |
| Cinematography | Ishtiaq Ahmed |
| Edited by | Rizwan AQ |
| Music by | Various artists Baqir Abbas (score) |
Production company | Shahid Films |
| Distributed by | Mandviwalla Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 153 minutes[1][2] |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Language | Urdu |
| Budget | approx.Rs. 22 crore[3] |
| Box office | est. Rs. 2 crore[4] |
Huey Tum Ajnabi (lit. 'You Turned Stranger') is a 2023 Pakistanihistoricalromantic drama film, written and directed byKamran Shahid in his debut. Set during the events of theFall of Dhaka, the story revolves around two lovers played byMikaal Zulfiqar andSadia Khan.
After two years of development since 2014, three years of filming, and then post-production phase and further delay due to theCOVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, the film was released onEid al-Fitr, 22 April 2023, byShahid Films and Mandviwalla Entertainment.
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BBC Urdu quoted the director saying that the film revolves around two lovers, Zeenat and Nizam, who meet inDhaka University[a] when there is awar happening in formerEast Pakistan during 1970s. They have to face the fundamentalists and ultra-nationalists, and choose one among the love or the nation.[6]
Kamran Shahid, a journalist by profession, revealed that after he was inspired with the bookDead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War bySarmila Bose, he began writing the script in 2014. After two years ofpre-production, he took self-responsibility to direct the film as well, marking his debut in this field despite being a novice. The director called its genres to be romantic movie more than a political one, based on before and after the 1971 war, so he characterized only three political figures in the film; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Indira Gandhi.[9][11][7]
In November 2016,Dawn Images reported that Sadia Khan and Mikaal Zulfiqar have signed for the lead roles in a film split between East andWest Pakistan. Other actors involved were named to be Alyy Khan and Shamoon Abbasi. The project was under theworking titleThe Trial and initially intended to be released in March 2017.[12][13][14] An earlier report in March had also suggested the involvement of actressResham.[15] Later, in November 2018,Vogue India reported Ayesha Omar being a part of this film as well.[16]
Principal photography started in late-2016 and took place inKarachi andLahore.[7] Though the film was self-financed, they received logistical supports by theInter-Services Public Relations as well.[9]
After beingwrapped up, the film went into thepost-production phase in 2019.[17][18] They had another intention of releasing it either on the festive holiday in 2020, or at the fiftieth anniversary of the Fall of Dhaka in 2021. But the plans ware scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic and closure of the nationwide cinemas. Ishtiaq Ahmed served as thecinematographer,Sreejesh Nair as thesound designer, Scott Newman as theVFX artist, Rizwan AQ as thefilm editor, Baqir Abbas as thefilm score composer, and the director's father Shahid Hameed as thefilm producer.[1][7][19][c] The musical instruments, color grading techniques, and wardrobe stylings were also inspired from that era to depict the proper period.[20][21]
Reportedly, the film soundtrack consists of 11 songs byvarious artists.[9][7] The title track is performed by Baqir Abbas withAli Zafar, with lyrics by Abass Tabish, which is said to be inspired byFaiz Ahmad Faiz's poetry "Hum Kay Thehray Ajnabi".[22][23] Other tracks include "Ranjhy Bina" byAbida Parveen, "Sunri Pawan" by Maria Meer, "Naina" by Naveed Nashad and Beena, "Teri Or" byAsim Azhar, rendition of "Mere Rashke Qamar" by Saima Jahan, a rendition of "Tajdar-e-Haram", etc.[9][7][24][c]
In September 2019,Huey Tum Ajnabi was revealed to be the title.[18] Thefilm trailer was launched in February 2023.[11] It was released on 22 April 2023, with another filmMoney Back Guarantee, and collectedRs. 2 crore during the Eid al-Fitr holidays.[4] It is produced by the Shahid Films and distributed by the Mandviwalla Entertainment.[25][26]
In November 2024, the project was revamped and released as a 36-episode TV series byPakistan Television Corporation,[c][d] following the similar format as was of 2015 filmBin Roye and its subsequentTV series.[27]
In a review forPakistaniCinema.net, Azadar Kazmi wrote that the shift between the "romantic track and the historical drama" is "bizarre", however, praised the VFX and war scenes.[24] Nida Usman Chaudhry wrote inThe Friday Times that the "technique of inserting song after song" is a "distraction", however, praised the VFX, cinematography and film score in some areas.[28] Omair Alavi compared it with the other local releases depicting the same period, includingJo Bichar Gaye (2022),Khaab Toot Jaatay Hain (2021), andKhel Khel Mein (2021), and called this as the weaker project in his review inVOA Urdu.[5]
Mohammad Kamran Jawaid ofDawn called the film's "tone and style" of being decades older from theVHS timeline, and despite he noted some issues, he called it "still manages to hold the stylistic flair of a big-screen movie".[1] Fizza Abbas ofDawn Images rated the film 2 out 5, noting "some limitations in storytelling but brilliance inCGI".[29]Hamid Mir ofGeo News wrote that the film is good from the aspect of production, but the depiction of historical events is misheld.[30] Hurmat Majid ofYoulin Magazine said that despite "commendable performances" and "stunning cinematography", it falls short of becoming a "well-made film".[31]
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