Janaan (French/Urdu/Pashto: جانان; transl. Beloved) is a 2016 Pakistani romantic comedy film directed by Azfar Jafri, written by Osman Khalid Butt and co-produced by Hareem Farooq, Munir Hussain, Imran Raza Kazmi and Reham Khan, under production banners of IRK Films and Munir Hussain Films – UK. The film stars Armeena Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan in lead roles.
| Janaan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| جاناں | |
| Directed by | Azfar Jafri |
| Written by | Osman Khalid Butt |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Haider A Rizvi |
| Edited by | Mitesh Soni |
| Music by |
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Production company | IRK Films |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 133 minutes |
| Countries | France Pakistan |
| Languages | {{Plainlist
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The film was released in Pakistan by ARY Films on 12 September 2016 (Eid al-Adha).[1] B4U Films distributed the film Internationally.[2]
Plot
editMeena (Armeena Khan), a Pashtun student living in Vancouver, Canada, travels to Swat, Pakistan for her cousin Palwasha's (Hania Amir) wedding. Her Canadian friends are worried that she may be married, too. She is met at the airport by the bride's adopted brother, Asafandyar (Bilal Ashraf), and taken back to the house, where festivities are taking a swing.
Upon arrival, Palwasha explains to Meena about her meeting and subsequent engagement with her fiancé Samir, a Punjabi. Daniyal (Ali Rehman Khan), Palwasha's cousin, attempts to impress Meena with some ill-advised stunts (including swallowing a lit cigarette), to Meena's disapproval and derision. The groom's family also arrive for the wedding. Meena breaks a tooth and while having the tooth fixed becomes intoxicated by the painkillers from the dentist- this leads to a chain of events which leads to Samir becoming uncomfortable, mistakenly thinking that Daniyal is attracted to him. Meanwhile, Meena develops a feeling for Asfandyar after seeing his kind nature, at the school where he works- a school funded by wealthy beneficiary Ikramullah.
On the night of Palwasha's mehndi ceremony, Chotu (the driver) reveals to Asfandyar that he was abused by Ikramullah in his childhood and that Ikramullah is a child predator who has been abusing vulnerable children at the school. Upon Ikramullah's arrival at the ceremony, Asfandyar approaches him in anger and punches and slaps him, much to his family's chagrin. This leads to Daniyal's mother denouncing Asfandyar, claiming that his temperament is solely due to his being adopted.
Asfandyar is greatly upset by this but is consoled by Daniyal, who tells him he thinks of him as his real older brother. Before learning about Ikramullah's true nature, Meena slaps Asfandyar out of anger and afterward regrets this action.
Due to his family's disapproval of his earlier actions, Asfandyar refrains from telling the family of Ikramullah's child abuse and remains detached at the Nikkah ceremony. His father learns of what happened to Chotu and the younger students and decides to pursue a court case against Ikramullah with the help of the students' parents. Ikramullah threatens violence against the family if the charges are not dropped.
Meanwhile, Samir and Asfandyar help Daniyal plan a proposal for Meena, a proposal that she rejects. Later that evening, the car that Palwasha and Meena are driving is stopped by Ikramullah's men. Asfandyar and Daniyal are also driving along this road and are injured in a struggle with Ikramullah's men.
On the day of the wedding, Meena receives a full-time job offer from a Canadian middle school, starting from a month after the wedding. After a talk with Daniyal, Asfandyar realizes his feelings for Meena and goes to her room to talk to her where he finds the job offer and leaves, assuming she will leave after accepting the offer.
After the wedding, Ikramullah's men arrive and shoot Chotu, killing him. Asfandyar follows them and finds that they have set the school on fire, in retaliation for Ikramullah's arrest earlier that night. Daniyal and Meena arrive as Asfandyar runs into the flames.
A month later, Meena is seen teaching the children from the burnt school, which is seen being reconstructed. She and Daniyal then travel to a graveyard, where Asfandyar is visiting Chotu's grave, still blaming himself for his death. Asfandyar assumes Meena is planning to return to Canada, having accepted the job offer, but she tells him she wants to stay and help rebuild the school. She then proceeds to propose to Asfandyar. The three then begin to head home.
Cast
edit- Armeena Khan as Meena khan/Meena Asfandyar Khan
- Bilal Ashraf as Asfandyar Asad Khan
- Ali Rehman Khan as Daniyal Khan
- Hania Aamir as Palwasha Asad Khan/ Palwasha Samir
- Usman Mukhtar as Samir
- Ajab Gul as Asad Khan
- Mishi Khan as Shireen Gul
- Nayyer Ejaz as Ikramullah
- Shafqat Khan as Khan Zaada
- Saad Zia Abbasi as Chotu
- Sabeena Farooq as Imaan (Palwasha's friend)
- Fahad Ali Panni
- Jalal Khan
- Ahsan Farooq
Guest appearance
editMusic
edit| Janaan | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Salim–Sulaiman, Ahmed Ali & Taha Malik | |
| Released | 2016 |
| Recorded | 2016 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Language | Urdu, Pashto |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) and Composer/Producers | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Janaan" | Armaan Malik | |
| 2. | "Jaanan Reprise" | Shreya Ghoshal | |
| 3. | "Shor Sharaba" | Shadab Fridi, Bhoomi Trivedi | |
| 4. | "Reid-i-Gul" | Yusra Iqbal, Awais Niazi | |
| 5. | "Jhoom Le" | Taha Malik featuring Natasha Baig |
Production
editFilming and casting
editIn May 2015, it was announced that a film named Janaan is in pre-production phase.[3] In August, the cast and crew was revealed on Twitter by the producer. Siyaah's team reunited in this film, with Imran Raza Kazmi returning as producer, Azfar Jafri as director, and Osman Khalid Butt as writer.[4] An agreement was signed between the production team and ARY Films to distribute Janaan.[5][6] The first spell of shooting began from 21 August in Islamabad[7] and lasted till 5 September.[8]
The second spell started in Swat valley. The same month Usman Mukhtar and Hania Aamir were cast. Janaan entered the final phase of its production in mid-October after shooting in Islamabad and Swat.[9] Reham Khan's departure from Pakistan after her divorce with Imran Khan questioned the production status of the film but her co-producer Imran Raza Kazmi stated "As the popular phrase goes: 'the show must go on' and putting all and any speculation to rest, I would like to say that this news will not affect the film in any manner whatsoever."[10]
Ajab Gul, Jalal Khan and Mishi Khan were revealed as cast with their character names on 7 November. Three new artists appeared in Janaan for the first time: Hania Aamir, Usman Mukhtar and Saad Zia Abbasi.
Marketing
editFilm's first look poster featuring Armeena Khan, Bilal Ashraf and Ali Rehman Khan was revealed online while Teaser Trailer on 18 March 2016.[11][12]
Janaan is the first Pakistani film whose teaser was shown on UK TV broadcasting channel Sky Sports 2 during the World T20 Cup match between India and Pakistan on 19 March 2016.[13]
Further the teaser was played on Shreya Ghoshal Concerts in UK.[14]
The film's theatrical trailer was released on 1 July 2016 on Fahad Mustafa's Jeeto Pakistan show. The trailer was appreciated by critics and film is expected to be a successful endeavor to promote Pashtun culture.[15] The trailer is expected to be played on all Arjit Singh's concerts in UK after its release.[16]
Release
editThe film was distributed by B4U Films in 17 countries.[17] ARY Films distributed it in Pakistan.[2]
The film was released in the United Arab Emirates on 8 September 2016, and was shown on limited screens the next day in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Fiji, Mauritius, New Zealand, South Africa, East Africa, and Singapore. The film was released in Pakistan on 12 September (Eid al-Adha),[18] and in India on 16 September.
Box office
editThe film grossed Rs 300 million ($3 million) worldwide, making it the highest-grossing Pakistani film of 2016.[19] It grossed at least Rs 175 million ($1.68 million) in Pakistan and Rs 110 million ($1.05 million) overseas.
In the United Kingdom, the film grossed £400,000 ($540,000) in 2016, making it the year's seventh highest-grossing non-English and non-Hindi film in the UK.[20] The UK accounted for about half of the film's overseas gross.
Awards and nominations
edit| Date of Ceremony | Award | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 April 2017 | 16th Lux Style Awards | Best Film | Janaan | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Azfar Jaffri | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Ali Rehman Khan | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Hania Amir | Nominated | |||
| Best Playback Singer – male | Armaan (for the song "Janaan") | Nominated | |||
| Best Playback Singer – Female | Shreya Ghoshal (for the song "Janaan") | Nominated | |||
| 2017 | 5th Hum Awards | Recognition Award – Films | Janaan | Won | |
| 9 September 2017 | 1st International Pakistan Prestige Awards | Best Film | "Janaan" | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Azfar Jaffri | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Bilal Ashraf | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Armeena Rana Khan | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Ali Rehman Khan | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Pakistan International Film Festival | Best Film | "Janaan" | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Azfar Jaffri | Nominated | |||
| Best Male Debut | Bilal Ashraf | Nominated | |||
| Ali Rehman Khan | Won | ||||
| Best Female Debut | Hania Amir | Won | |||
| Best Editor | Mitesh Soni | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ARY FILMS announce to release Reham Khan's Janaan". ARY News. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ a b "B4U Movies to distribute 'Janaan' globally". ARY News. 30 May 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Reham Khan to launch film production career with Jaanan?". DAWN.com. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Just in: Reham Khan announces Janaan's cast and crew on Twitter". DAWN.com. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ "Reham's first film "Janaan" to be released by ARY Films". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 21 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ "ARY Films to release Reham Khan's first flick 'Janaan'". The News Tribe. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ "Reham's 'Janaan' to go on floors". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "First leg of Reham Khan's 'Janaan' is complete". HiP. Wajiha Jawaid. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ "Janaan to enter final phase of production". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ^ "Despite Reham Khan's absence, her film Jaanan's shoot goes strong". DAWN Images. Irfan-ul-Haq. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ "First teaser of ARY Films' Janaan unleashed". ARY News. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ "'Janaan' starring Armeena Khan teaser released". The News Teller. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ "Teaser of Reham Khan's film 'Janaan' released". Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Janaan". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ "- YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "New 'Janaan' trailer to play at Arijit Singh UK Shows | BizAsia Media | The UK's only Asian media news site". www.media247.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
- ^ Film 'Janaan' seeks positive global spotlight for Pakistan
- ^ "Pakistani 'Janaan' all set to release on Eidul Azha". Daily Times. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
- ^ "Janaan Became the Highest Grossing Pakistani Film of 2016 as it has earned more than 30 Crores Globally". Facebook. @JanaanOfficial. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ Statistical Yearbook 2017 (PDF). United Kingdom: British Film Institute (BFI). 2017. pp. 66–7. Retrieved 25 April 2022.