Chikkar is now showing in cinemas but is Usman Mukhtar & Ushna Shah’s crime thriller getting the genre right? Is it marking a shift in the quality of Pakistani films? Read our full review!
Dareechay Films presents “Chikkar,” a highly-anticipated crime thriller starring the dynamic duo Usman Mukhtar and Ushna Shah. This crime thriller also marks the directorial debut for the talented Zaheer Uddin. The cast includes Usman Mukhtar, Ushna Shah, Faryal Mehmood, Nausheen Shah, Saleem Mairaj, Aliee Sheikh, Adnan Shah Tipu, and other seasoned TV and theatre actors.
The title itself, meaning “mud” in Punjabi and Urdu, hints at themes of societal struggles and oppression. The teaser portrays images of government buildings, police officers, and a bloodied corpse, suggesting a potential focus on social injustices and violence.
Direction & Production Quality
The direction was meticulously paced, although the production quality could have been improved a notch. Certain shots leave one in awe due to their artistic composition, but overall, the movie plays it safe in terms of cinematography and avoids experimental approaches, giving it a distinct Netflix series feel. However, it seems to have successfully cracked the code of appealing to both the elite and the masses.
The scenes and cinematography were aesthetic, pleasing to the eye, and quite varied. The film explores high society, power dynamics, and the relationships of educated, thriving couples, while also delving into the harsh realities of our nation, our surroundings, and the crimes that take place. While Chikkar falls into the murder mystery and crime thriller genres, don’t expect it to be a fast-paced watch. It intentionally maintains a slow pace throughout, delving deep into the details of each scene, every angle, and step in the unveiling of the murderer. The narrative takes us along with those who aid the heinous crimes, exploring the characters’ involvement and slips in bits of their personal lives.
The Opening Scene Is Ingeniously Juxtaposed
The film opens to chaos and a swarm of people, deliberately and ingeniously juxtaposed with a politician’s speech, where empty political promises are made. The deliberate and ingenious aspect indicates a purposeful and clever arrangement or presentation. The chaos and swarm of people contrast intentionally with the politician`s speech, characterized as delivering empty political promises, implying that the words being spoken lack substance or sincerity. Overall, it paints a picture where the visuals and political rhetoric create an interesting and thought-provoking blend.
The Story: An Account Of 8 Days
The story begins with the brutal killing of Neelam Shahzadi, a local village theatre actress and dancer by four men in the name of “baladkari.” The movie doesn’t offer a diluted narrative but instead, presents a distressing account, highlighting how our society tends to follow the herd blindly, lacking room for fact-checks and leaving accountability either to the higher powers or officials.
The film unfolds over eight days, serving as a social diary documenting the process of solving the case. The narrative exposes cruel and harsh truths, yet maintains a lingering sense of melancholy. The story follows the commendable officer, Sarmad Zaman, who, previously an officer on special duty, is stationed in Diyalpur to ensure justice for Neelam Shahzadi, taking on the role of SSP in response to the government’s solution to public outcry.
Stellar Performances
Ushna Shah
Next, we see Ushna Shah captivating our attention as she portrays the character of Ayla Zaman. Ayla is a Pakistani cricketer aspiring to secure a spot in the final selection for the World Cup. Hailing from a privileged family, Ayla is not only a cricketer but also an ardent seeker of justice, supporting her husband Sarmad Zaman in his pursuit. Ushna fit well into the character of Ayla, embodying the feistiness and sensitivity the role required.
Usman Mukhtar
Usman Mukhtar portrays SSP Sarmad Zaman, a well-educated and just officer who staunchly believes in following rules and values, asserting: “Ya tou rules hai ya nahi, there’s no in-between.” Despite being a stringent stickler for rules, Sarmad Zaman is not devoid of wit, humor, or sarcasm. Usman Mukhtar effortlessly brings out this facet of the character, seamlessly infusing sensitive humour in selected scenes. His portrayal invites the audience to cheer on and hope for Sarmad Zaman’s win.
In an effort to provide a diverse viewing experience, the movie portrays a dark and gripping narrative, punctuated with moments of humor.
Nouman Waheed Qureshi
A significant portion of the endearing humor is attributed to the character that stole the show, Jamal Bhatti. Played by Nouman Waheed Qureshi. Jamal Bhatti served as Sarmad Zaman’s right hand, maintaining his screen presence throughout. We thoroughly enjoyed all scenes featuring Jamal Bhatti, whether they were nerve-wracking and serious, or witty and light-hearted.
Aliee Sheikh
Sardar was another character who kept our attention! The chemistry Aliee Shaikh shared with Nouman Waheed’s character; the Bhatti and Sardar, exhibits the potential to become a popular police officer duo with their witty jokes and banter.
Nausheen Shah
Nausheen Shah portrays a high-profile politician Zareen Shah, a Chief Minister, and boy, did she get the boss woman memo! She delivered precisely what the role demanded: a manipulative, agenda-driven politician with a thirst for power. Her style and fashion also elevated the character.
Though the movie gave us many intense scenes, the ones between Usman Mukhtar and Nausheen Shah were noticeably impactful and engrossing. With both actors excelling in capturing the nuances of power dynamics.
Saleem Mairaj
Saleem Mairaj portrays Arman Saleem Sawan, an investigative journalist who is likable, funny, and struggling to find the exclusive news break that will propel his career to new heights. This performance highlights the versatility of Saleem Mairaj, is there any genre or character that this man can’t master? His role is yet another one that we cheer on—a truly captivating performance once again.
Adnan Shah Tipu
Adnan Shah Tipu played Dawar Sultan Baksh, giving us another varied performance embodying the character so skillfully.
Faryal Mehmood
Playing the victim, Neelam, though appearing briefly, she still delivered a powerful performance, also showcasing her eastern dance skills.
Khalid Malik
Malik, the suave politician who took us on a treacherous ride, was another formidable presence onscreen, skilfully deceiving audiences about whether he was an evil or positive character.
Getting Crime Thriller Right & Making An Impact With A Message
As a crime thriller, one naturally expects the movie to provide a logical account of events, clues, fact-finding, and order – Chikkar truly does get it right.
A meticulously slow-paced narrative takes one through the unraveling of the case in 8 days. The film features numerous scenes that elicit horror, shock, curiosity, and laughter. One particularly harrowing moment is the post-mortem scene, sending shivers down the spine with its detailed and sensitive portrayal. For once, the film portrays female police officers actively contributing to the investigation rather than being relegated to mere side roles.
The movie also highlights how we often tend to condescend or assume that we possess a kind of moral compass that grants us a free pass to pronounce judgment on others – theatre artists and dancers in this case. The compulsion to correct others has transformed us into even greater vultures. Drawing inspiration from, and paying homage to instances of mob justice and lynching, the film honors victims like Mashal Khan and others.
Our Verdict
While meticulous, it became challenging for viewers to keep track of the multiple suspects and unfolding crimes. The numerous interlinked events and characters seemed to collide into each other, emitting a sense of blurred confusion.
However, there was a notable technical flaw—a significant dubbing issue towards the end. There seemed to be a fluctuation in audio quality. Nevertheless, there was no subpar performance throughout the movie; each actor delivered their lines with a sense of coherence, and their expressions did justice to the roles.
The shift in the content direction of Pakistani films is significant. It is not a spontaneous decision; rather, it is intentional and purposeful. This marks a substantial improvement in the quality of content, though one may feel more encouraged to watch it as a Netflix series. The conclusion was a mix of melancholy, beauty, and gratification, bringing the narrative full circle.
“Chikkar” is now screening in theaters near you starting from December 22nd 2023.
