The Hamza Ali Abbasi-starrer Parwaz Hai Junoon, which is said to be Hum Films’s “tribute to the Pakistan Air Force,” recently got a new release date: Eid Al Adha 2018. No sooner did the announcement come, the media as well as makers who had lined up their films for Eid already, took a collective gasp. This is suicidal, some said; while others commented that PHJ should’ve been an Independence Day release, considering its patriotism-filled content. The rest wouldn’t stop blaming the industry bigwigs for their unwise decisions.
Director Nabeel Qureshi, who had declared at the very launch of his latest film, Load Wedding, last year, that it was being readied for Eid Al Adha 2018, is at a loss for words: “What do I say? I fail to understand their policy.”
The other stakeholder in this is going to be Humayun Saeed and ARY whose much-awaited sequel to 2015’s blockbuster hit, Jawani Phir Nahi Ani, is also due out on Eid.
It might be interesting to quote here the explanation offered by the PHJ producer Momina Duraid, in an official statement to the media: “There are six films releasing this Eid and currently our industry is not strong enough to support the release of so many films together. It is indeed a reason of concern for all the producers as it will be difficult for the films to break even if released together, considering the number of screens and shows available.”
