At a time when the Pakistani film industry is seeing a drop in film release numbers, there are a few filmmakers out there who are facing the storm and bringing their stories to the big screen. However, despite the greatest efforts, just a handful appear to leave an impression on viewers, who are still hesitant to return to the movies in droves.
This year, however, it appears that one film and one filmmaker have the ability to reverse the trend: director Umair Nasir Ali and his film Nayab.
The film, which stars Pakistani television industry’s current reigning diva Yumna Zaidi in her debut, is an investigation of unfulfilled goals, cultural standards, and, at its core, the relationships in our lives that allow us to survive in a harsh and merciless world. Nayab, the eponymous character, too has a narrative.
Nayab (Yumna Zaidi) dreams of being a cricketer who would one day be able to beat India for the trophy. She lives in a home that seldom understands her desire, with the exception of her brother. Her parents, played by Huma Nawab and Jawed Sheikh, are any ordinary couple with a society to ‘account to,’ whilst her older sister leads a luxurious married life in Dubai. Her brother, performed excellently by theatrical actor Fawad Khan and affectionately referred to as Akka throughout the film, is the only genuine rescuer.
Fueled by his own inability to become a national level cricketer, he continues to encourage Nayab in his quest to one day achieve the heights he now only dreams of, despite harsh reality, debilitating poverty, and a family he must maintain exclusively. Sometimes this means forsaking the demands of his own family and wife.
The way the film handles all of this, at least in the first half, is extremely impressive. The plot progresses slowly, and everything takes its time to reach the necessary level. Even the complementary ‘love angle’ between Nayab and her supporting football-player-turned-entrepreneur lover Zain (played by Usama Khan) lends a new dimension to the story. Their partnership also works surprisingly well, since both performers have genuine chemistry on film.
However, it appears that Nayab is more than simply doing the right thing. The story, in which cricket in Pakistan and its precarious situation appear to be the main thread, rapidly becomes intertwined with a web of diverse narratives that take the film elsewhere. On one side, the film follows the eponymous girl and how her training leads her on a risky adventure of her own, while on the other, the tale shifts to a melodrama with family concerns and everything in between.
In short, the film begins on such a strong footing that, aside from the strong narrative, everything from the palpable energy of Karachi – captured beautifully by cinematographer Shahjee Hassan – to the art direction and sets – brought to life by Nouman Akhter – is done to perfection. At times, it felt almost too genuine, which is a high praise in the realm of movies.
Unfortunately, the picture has its own set of issues.
Starting after the interval, Nayab finds itself in fairly bearable circumstances. It nearly goes into overdrive, with practically everything happening in the picture – but not enough time to fill out the plot. This is significant given the film’s already lengthy duration.
The film, which had already created strong subtle familial relationships before the break, seemed to rely even more on them in the second half. Instead of taking a fresh perspective, this becomes a theatrical story. Without giving away any surprises, Nayab’s descent into emotional heaviness has a significant impact on the viewer.
As a result, the film, which had previously effectively grasped the subject of Nayab and her desire to become one of Pakistan’s best athletes, becomes weaker in its storytelling. Perhaps good editing to shorten the film’s duration, as well as reducing the emphasis on extra songs and nationalistic rhetoric, would have made the plot much clearer.
Nonetheless, the film is far from a horrible try. Nayab, despite its flaws, is a powerful narrative that deserved to be told.
Among the plethora of sports-themed films and series made in Pakistan, Nayab stands out as a strong candidate for a unique plot. It investigates how a goal might be linked to a variety of tales beyond the realm of cricket. Most significantly, it succeeds in humanizing the characters rather than simply caricaturing them. All of the key characters, including Yumna Zaidi as Nayab, Usama Khan as Zain, and Fawad Khan as Akka, have been given character development that viewers can relate to.
Overall, Nayab keeps its footing, looks like a film, and brings to life a story that has the ability to encourage both men and women to strive hard for their ambitions. If a film can do all of this in Pakistan while still making fans cheer for the underdog, it would have done more than half of its job. And for that, the picture must be seen and enjoyed.
Iqra Khan