Parchi (film)
Parchi (, ) is a 2018 Pakistani Urdu-language crime comedy film directed by Azfar Jafri and produced by Imran Kazmi and Arif Lakhani under the banner IRK Films. The film stars Hareem Farooq, Ali Rehman Khan and Shafqat Cheema, with Ahmed Ali Akbar, Faiza Saleem, Shafqat Khan and Usman Mukhtar in supporting roles. Khan also wrote film whilst Usman Mukhtar managed cinematography; Farooq also produced the film. It was released and distributed by ARY Films on 5 January 2018. Production. Development and casting. In March 2016; producer Imran Kazmi in an interview with "The Express Tribune" revealed that his  production team had begun with the film's pre-production, and with the intention to begin shooting for the film in October 2016. He confirmed that the script had been finalised. He also told that he would be co-producing with Hareem Farooq who will also play as one of the leads in the film alongside Ali Rehman and Usman Mukhtar. Filming. Some of the filming for the film was done in Islamabad in the outskirts of the city. A night scene was shot in an old factory of an industrial zone, in very late hours of the night. Usman  Mukhtar who in addition plays one of the lead characters in the film, managed the cinematography of the film. Release. The film's trailer was released on 2 December 2017 and the film released across Pakistan on 5 January 2018. "Parchi" was the first Pakistani movie to be released in Saudi cinemas. Box office. The film opened in Pakistan to about in its first day, made up to in its first weekend, and managed to collect up to within a week. Per reports, The film grossed nationwide, making the total gross figures up to in a month. The film ended  its run at worldwide. Reception. Critical reception. The film was premiered in Karachi on 3 January 2018. Iman Zia of MangoBaaz said, "while it isn't an entire failure, the film is not as forgettable as I had expected". Shahjehan Saleem of "Something Haute" rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and said, "Sadly its shortcomings let it down […] If the film has one thing going for it, it's the acting." Sonia Ashraf of "DAWN Images" and said, "Parchi is not a film without flaws but it has some redeemable qualities that make it worth a watch." Shahjahan Khurram of  Samaa TV rated 2 out of 5 stars and said, "there were flashes of commendable performance in the flick but by and large, it failed to fire on all cylinders." Buraq Shabbir of "The News International" said, "The good thing is that Parchi has been shot very well, with good camera work and an exciting cast but unfortunately it falls flat in terms of plot and character development." Rahul Aijaz of "The Express Tribune" rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and said, "Even with a lot going on in its favour, it's a forgettable film." For "Daily Times", Haider  Rifaat rated 4 out of 5 stars and praised it, "The fun driven film is a family entertainer for sure and manages to tease and thrill simultaneously." Saira Agha praised its cinematography but said, "Good actors cannot save a bad film and the same fate is met by "Parchi"." Ally Adnan praised only 3 actors, while he wrote that ""Parchi" will not blow anyone's mind"; adding "the 'Mummy Daddy Burger Film' genre does not consider originality and innovation to be a virtue" and it too borrows the ideas from "more than 20 films". Umair Sohail of Dunya News  rated 3 out of 5 stars and said that it is "a full-on comedy movie".