Chikkar (transl. Mud) is a Pakistani thriller film directed and produced by Zaheer Uddin in his directorial debut.[2] The film features an ensemble cast of Usman Mukhtar, Ushna Shah, Nausheen Shah, Adnan Shah Tipu, Saleem Mairaj, Aliee Shaikh and Faryal Mehmood.[3] It first premiered on 20 December 2023 in Nueplex Cinemas[4] and was released theatrically nationwide two days later.[5][6]

Chikkar
Directed byZaheer Uddin
Screenplay byZaheer Uddin
Produced byZaheer Uddin
Hamza Imam
Starring
Edited byImran Mushtaq
Music byUsman Sheikh
Haroon Sheikh
Production
company
Dareechay Films
Release date
  • 22 December 2023 (2023-12-22)
Running time
173 minutes
CountryPakistan
LanguageUrdu
Box officeRs. 0.70 crore (US$24,000)[1]

Plot summary

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After the brutal killing of a dancer in Diyalpur, a dedicated police officer takes charge of the case, determined to ensure justice for the perpetrators. As he delves deeper in the investigations, he falls a prey of a web of deception and falsehoods, opting for the challenging path even at the risk of his own life and the well-being of his loved ones, just a few steps away from reaching a resolution. The film is an account of five days.[7]

Cast

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Production

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The trailer of the film was released on 1 December 2023.[11][10]

Reception

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Box office

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The film collected 70 Lac PKR in its entire theatrical run.[1]

Critical reception

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Dawn praised the story and performances of the actors while pointing out its flaws, the reviewer noted its lengthy screenplay, dull-drab colour grading and ambience-thickening background score.[12] The Express Tribune praised the performances of several actors, use of humour and Zaheer Uddin's direction stating, "Within its allotted runtime, the debutant filmmaker has crafted an immersive story with consistent visual grammar, subtle red herrings, and a multilayered film universe."[13] The News International praised the direction for compelling the narrative skillfully, performances of the supporting cast more than the main leads, Mukhtar and Shah, but criticized the movie's flat humour and needlessly stretched conclusion.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Box office Nayab, Chikkar". Pakistani cinema. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Ushna Shah, Usman Mukhtar team up in 'Chikkar' for riveting crime thriller". Samaa TV. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Chikkar is getting murder mystery crime thriller right a fuchsia review". Fuchsia Magazine. 23 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Premiere of crime thriller film Chikkar in Karachi - Aaj News". Aaj English TV. 21 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Audience full of praise for film at premiere of 'Chikkar'". The News International. 21 December 2023.
  6. ^ Desk, Entertainment (20 December 2023). "Usman Mukhtar's film 'Chikkad' gets a captivating boost from wife Zunaira Inam". thecurrent.pk. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ Chughtai, Warshma (27 November 2023). "Chikkar's Journey From Vision To Reality With Usman Mukhtar And Zaheer Uddin".
  8. ^ "'Chikkar': Usman Mukthar Drops Teaser For His Latest Film - Lens".
  9. ^ Butt, Ifrah (23 December 2023). "Ushna Shah's Misunderstanding On The Sets Of 'Chikkar'".
  10. ^ a b "Trailer for 'Chikkar' released". Daily Times. 2 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b "'Chikkar' trailer promises a gripping crime drama with a mystery waiting to be unwrapped". The Express Tribune. 2 December 2023.
  12. ^ Mohammad Kamran Jawaid (7 January 2024). "The Icon Review: In Mud, Looking Up At The Stars". Dawn.com.
  13. ^ Manahil Tahira (24 December 2023). "Review: Flat humour and ambitious cops, 'Chikkar' is a good one-time watch". The Express Tribune.
  14. ^ Gaitee Ara Siddiqui (7 January 2024). "In the picture". The News International. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
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