A review on Pakistani Drama feature length film, Ramchand Pakistani (2008). The Production House is Percept Picture Company while its Distributors are Geo Films and Museum of Modern Art.
+ Crew
- Directed by Mehreen Jabbar
- Cinematography by Sofian Khan
- Written & Produced by Javed Jabbar
- Screenplay by Mohammad Ahmed
- Edited by Aseem Sinha
+ Note
Ramchand Pakistani is based on a true story of a boy who inadvertently crosses the border between Pakistan and India and the following ordeal that his family has to go through. It is one of the first Pakistani films in which the principal characters are Hindu.
It is first feature length film directed by Mehreen Jabbar. Its music is composed by Debojyoti Mishra, Surya Mitra, Sarthak Sarkar and Shiraj Hussain.
+ Awards
- FIPRESCI Prize from the International Federation of Film Critics at the Osian Film Festival (July 2008)
- Honorable Mention by the 13th Annual Satyajit Ray Award at the London Film Festival (2008).
- Best Actor for Rashid Farooqi at the KaraFilm Festival, Pakistan (2009)
- Audience Award at the Fribourg Int’l Film Festival, Switzerland (March 2009).
- Honorable Mention by the Ecumenical Jury at the Fribourg Int’l Film Festival, Switzerland (March 2009).
- Honorable Mention by the E Changer Award at the Fribourg Int’l Film Festival, Switzerland (March 2009)
- Ramchand Pakistani received a silver medal in the feature film category at the SAARC Film Awards (2012).
- Rashid Farooqui received the award for best actor in the feature film at the SAARC Film Awards (2012).
- Ramchand Pakistani won Best Film Award on Pakistan Media Award (2010).
+ Main Cast
- Nandita Das as Champa
- Syed Fazal Hussain as Ramchand (Child)
- Navaid Jabbar as Ramchand (Teenager)
- Rashid Farooqui as Shankar
- Maria Wasti as Kamla
- Noman Ijaz as Abdullah
- Shahood Alvi as Asif Hussain
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+ Supportive Cast
- Adnan Shah as Sharma
- Adarsh Ayaz as Moti
- Farooq Pario as Suresh
- Zhalay Sarhadi as Lakshmi
- Atif Badar as Lalu
- Saleem Mairaj as Vishesh
- Saif-e-Hasan as Murad
+ Plot
A minor child, Pakistani boy and his father belonging to the untouchable Hindu caste accidentally cross the border and spend years in an Indian jail while the mother on the other side doesn’t know what has happened to them.
+ High Points
i – Syed Fazal Hussain though being just a kid in the film but his performance is one of the best for the times to come.
ii – Maria Wasti is such a good actress where her character as Kamla is memorable one in this film. Her relationship between her and Ramchand was well shown as both were Hindus yet the caste difference created an awkward situation for Kamla in how to deal with this low caste kid. But with passage of time we see it diminishes and creates love bond between the two. Other Honorable Mentions: Rashid Farooqui, Shahood Alvi and Nandita Das.
iii – The first feature film by Mehreen Jabbar as a director made its strong stand in our Pakistani film industry.
iv – Sofian Khan did a worthy effort in its cinematography.
v – The production design and locations are commendable and very well chosen.
+ Low Points
i – Some people may find film at slow pace, although it takes a jump start in its intro towards the main plot.
Ii – Most of the major star names are in the cast as cameo or given very small / minor roles only, such as Noman Ejaz, Saleem Miraj, Adnan Shah and Saif-e-Hasan.
+ Overall
Mehreen Jabber’s directorial debut, Ramchand Pakistani has charmed its way in to the people hearts and won them over to this courageous story.
Rate: 4.25 out of 5 stars
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