Zinda Bhaag (Urdu: زندہ بھاگ) is a 2013 Pakistani Punjabi-language drama film co-directed by Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi,[2] and produced by Mazhar Zaidi.[3] The film focuses on the issue of illegal migration.[4] The film had a premiere on 19 September 2013 and a theatrical release on 20 September.[5] The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, the first in over 50 years.[6] The film was made as part of a project on masculinity titled Let's Talk Men, affiliated with United Nations agencies for the prevention of gender-based violence.[7]

Zinda Bhaag
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMeenu Gaur
Farjad Nabi
Produced byMazhar Zaidi
StarringNaseeruddin Shah
Zain Afzal
Amna Ilyas
Khurram Patras
Salman Ahmad Khan
Zohaib Asghar
Samiya Mumtaz
Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
CinematographySatya Rai Nagpaul
Edited by
  • Shan Muhammed
  • Fahad Bajwa
  • Faizan Yousuf
Music bySahir Ali Bagga
Production
company
Matteela Films
Distributed byARY Films
Footprint Entertainment
Release date
  • 20 September 2013 (2013-09-20)
Running time
120 minutes
CountryPakistan
LanguagePunjabi
Box officeRs. 7.5 million (US$26,000) first week from Pakistan[1] Rs. 2 crore (US$69,000) total gross from Pakistan

Plot

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Zinda Bhaag focuses on the theme of illegal immigration, highlighting the issue and the epicentre of this trend within Punjab.[8] The story of Zinda Bhaag unravels the theme of illegal immigration, called 'dunky'. This involves inhuman and dangerous methods of crossing borders into foreign lands.[4] It is a film about three young men trying to escape the reality of their everyday lives and succeeding in ways they had least expected. In a nondescript neighbourhood of cities like Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat and Wazirabad within Punjab,[9] three friends are desperate to get onto the fast track to success. Khaldi, Taambi, and Chitta, all in their early twenties, believe that the only way out is to the West. The journey that unfolds through the story of this film gives us an insight into what constitutes the everyday lives of many young men and women in Pakistan – a sense of entitlement that cannot be fulfilled, desperation to somehow prove themselves in the face of all legitimate doors being locked, and an ennui from which they feel there is no getaway.[10]

Cast

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Awards

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The film won four awards at the International South Asian Film Festival in Canada.[11][12] The film won a 'Special Jury Award' at the Jaipur International Film Festival.[13] The film also received five awards including Best Film (Jury) at the recently concluded ARY Film Awards held under the aegis of the Pakistani TV channel network, ARY Digital Network.[14][15] The film also won 'Best Film', 'Best Director' (Meenu & Farjad) and 'Best Actor' (Khurram Patras) in Pakistan's prestigious 'Lux Style Awards'[16][17] and the 'Student Jury Award' at Festival du Film d'Asie du Sud Transgressif (FFAST) in Paris.[18]

Soundtrack

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Track listing

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The original soundtrack (OST) of the film is sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The film's music features the voices of Abrarul Haq, Arif Lohar, and Saleema Jawwad. Lohar and Jawwad have sung a song on love and death while Bagga has contributed his vocals to two tracks, an upbeat dance-bhangra number and a romantic ballad.[19]

Track # Song Singer(s) Length
1 "Paar Channah"[20] Arif Lohar & Saleema Jawad 4:00
2 "Saari Saari Raat" Sahir Ali Bagga, Farah Anwar 4:00
3 "Dekhenge" Jabar Abbas 4:00
4 "Taariyan" Sahir Ali Bagga 4:00
5 "Pani da Bulbula"[21] Abrar ul Haq 4:00
6 "Pata Yaar Da" Rahat Fateh Ali Khan 4:00
7 "Kurri Yes A" Amanat Ali, Iqra Ali 4:00

Release

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The first look of Zinda Bhaag's trailer was unveiled on 18 June 2013.[22] This film was earlier set to release on 6 September.[23] Due to a backlog of unreleased films, the release of 'Zinda Bhaag' was postponed. It released on 20 September 2013.[24][25] 'Zinda Bhaag' had been released in 10 states in the US as well on 18 October 2013.[26] Zinda Bhaag screened during the seventh edition of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) initiative Film Bazaar, (20 November 2013) in Goa.[27] The film also released in India.[28][29] The film arrived at Abu Dhabi Film Festival (24 October – 2 November 2013) and consequently was theatrically released in the UAE.[30][31] It was subsequently released on Netflix in 2015.[32]

Accolades

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The film received a total of 19-nominations at the first ARY Film Awards tying with Main Hoon Shahid Afridi.[33][34][35]

Nominated
year of work
Award Category Recipient(s) Result
2013 1st ARY Film Awards Best Film Jury Mazhar Zaidi Won
Best Film Nominated
Best Director Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Best Actress Jury Amna Ilyas Won
Best Actor Khurram Patras Nominated
Best Actress Amna Ilyas
Best Supporting Actor Salman Ahmad
Best Supporting Actress Naghma Beghum
Best Star Debut Male Khurram Patras
Best Star Debut Female Amna Ilyas
Best Actor in a Comic Role Zohaib Asghar
Best Actor in a Negative Role Naseeruddin Shah
Best Original Music Sahir Ali Bagga
Best Male Playback Singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Won
Abrar-ul-Haq Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Iqra Ali
Best Story Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi Won
Best Background Score Sahir Ali Bagga
13th Lux Style Awards[36] Lux Style Award for Best Film Mazhar Zaidi Won
Lux Style Award for Best Film Director Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi Won
Lux Style Award for Best Film Actor Khurram Patras Won
Lux Style Award for Best Film Actress Amna Ilyas Nominated
Lux Style Award for Best Original Soundtrack Mazhar Zaidi Nominated
4th Pakistan Media Awards Pakistan Media Award for Best Film Mazhar Zaidi Nominated
Pakistan Media Award for Best Film Director Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi
Pakistan Media Award for Best Film Actor Khurram Patras
Pakistan Media Award for Best Film Actress Amna Ilyas

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mahmood, Rafay (28 September 2013). "Did you know?: Zinda Bhaag bags Rs 7.5 million in first week". Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  2. ^ Das, Srijana Mitra (23 September 2013). "Zinda Bhaag reflects new generation of Pak filmmakers and viewers: Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  3. ^ Jawaid, Muhammad Kamran (20 September 2013). "Movie Review: Zinda Bhaag". DAWN. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  4. ^ a b Kazim, Syeda Shehrbano (15 December 2013). "Zinda Bhaag unravels the theme of illegal immigration". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  5. ^ Maleeha (19 September 2013). "Zinda Bhaag gets a red carpet premiere". DAWN. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Pakistan sends official entry to Oscars after 50 years". Arab News. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  7. ^ Vazira Fazila-Yacoobali Zamindar; Asad Ali, eds. (2020). Love, war & other longings: essays on cinema in Pakistan (First ed.). Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-070185-7. OCLC 1198086805.
  8. ^ "First Look: Long-awaited Zinda Bhaag unveils trailer – The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Movie Review: 'Zinda Bhaag'". Tribune. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  10. ^ Khan, Sher (13 October 2013). "Zinda Bhaag: Get out while you can". Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  11. ^ "Zinda Bhaag wins four awards in Toronto festival". The News. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  12. ^ "Did you know?: Zinda Bhaag wins four awards in Canada". Tribune. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  13. ^ Jawaid, Mohammad Kamran (6 February 2014). "Zinda Bhaag wins "Special Jury Award"". DAWN.COM.
  14. ^ 1st ARY Film Awards#Awards
  15. ^ Mughal, Danish (28 April 2014). "Complete Winners List of First ARY Films Awards -".
  16. ^ 13th Lux Style Awards
  17. ^ Desk, Entertainment (4 December 2014). "13th Lux Style awards: And the winners are..." DAWN.COM. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ Ahmed, Shoaib (15 February 2015). "'Zinda Bhaag' wins award in Paris". DAWN.COM.
  19. ^ Khan, Sher (30 May 2013). "'Zinda Bhaag's music is quintessentially Pakistani'". Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  20. ^ "Top 10 Pakistani songs of 2013". The Express Tribune. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  21. ^ "Five cover songs of 2013 that blew us away". The Express Tribune. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  22. ^ Qamar, Saadia (18 June 2013). "First Look: Long-awaited Zinda Bhaag unveils trailer". Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  23. ^ "Cinema: Zinda Bhaag gets a fall release date". Tribune. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  24. ^ Ahmed, Shoaib (31 August 2013). "'Zinda Bhaag' release delayed". DAWN. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  25. ^ Mahmood, Rafay (30 August 2013). "Did you know?: Zinda Bhaag gets delayed till September 20". Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2013.
  26. ^ "Zinda Bhaag to release in the US October 18". Tribune. 3 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  27. ^ "Pakistani Film 'Zinda Bhaag' to Screen in Goa". IndiaWest. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  28. ^ "Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag may release in India". Firstpost. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  29. ^ IANS (29 October 2013). "Pakistani films need to be shown in India: Zinda Bhaag makers". Tribune. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  30. ^ "Zinda Bhaag is a hit at Abu Dhabi film fest". Hindustan Times. 29 October 2013. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  31. ^ "Zinda Bhaag coming to the UAE". Gulf News. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  32. ^ "Zinda Bhaag and Netflix". Dawn News. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Complete Winners List of First ARY Films Awards". Pakistan Ultimade Media. 25 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  34. ^ "ARY Film Awards 2014 – Complete Winners List". Brand Synario. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  35. ^ "ARY Film Awards 2014 AFA14 Pictures and Winners". Style Pakistan. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  36. ^ 13th Lux Style Awards

Further reading

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