This Eid ul Azha, two Pakistani films – Deemak and Love Guru – hit the big screens, performing well at the box office while drawing mixed reactions from the public. FUCHSIA Magazine invited critics to share their views on these much-talked-about releases.
Love Guru stars Mahira Khan and Humayun Saeed in lead roles, directed by Nadeem Baig and penned by Vasay Chaudhary. On the other hand, Deemak features Faysal Quraishi, Sonya Hussyn, and Samina Peerzada, directed by Rafay Rashdi with a script by Ayesha Muzaffar. Joining us for a panel discussion are Buraq Shabbir (BBC, Arab News) and Kamran Jawaid (DAWN) to discuss these latest offerings from the Pakistani film industry. Hear them out below!
How Did The Critics Like Love Guru?
When I went to watch the movie, overall I actually enjoyed it while I sat there for two and a half hours.
Buraq Shabbir, BBC Urdu
Buraq Shabbir of BBC Urdu shared that she went in with very low expectations after finding the trailer repetitive and predictable, similar to other rom-coms of recent years. However, once she watched the film, she was pleasantly surprised and found it quite entertaining overall.
I actually had a good time watching Love Guru. Mujhe maza aaya.
Rabia Mughni, FUCHSIA
Rabia Mughni of FUCHSIA Magazine shared that she genuinely enjoyed watching Love Guru and had a good time overall.
It was exactly how it should have been!
Kamran Jawaid, DAWN
Kamran of Dawn felt Love Guru delivered exactly what audiences would expect, praising Nadeem Baig’s direction for maintaining a fresh and engaging style without repeating his previous hits. He noted the film’s pacing and storytelling stood out, much like Baig’s earlier successful projects.
What Were The Flaws In Love Guru?
You don’t feel the romance, especially when the romance should have been triggered.
Kamran Jawaid, DAWN
Kamran pointed out that the film’s biggest flaw was its lack of emotional connection in the romantic storyline, saying the romance never truly took off even though there was a clear buildup. He considered this a minor flaw but felt the moments that should have sparked genuine feelings fell flat.
I had major issues with the makeup.
Rabia Mughni, FUCHSIA
While talking about the flaws, Rabia Mughni said she enjoyed Love Guru but did not like the makeup in the film.
Comedy was subtle in this movie. Not just the romance.
Buraq Shabbir, BBC Urdu
Buraq added that the comedy in the film was also quite subtle, which contributed to an overall lack of impact beyond just the romance.
What Worked Well In Deemak?
Serious, good looking, supernatural thriller.
Kamran Jawaid, DAWN
Kamran appreciated that Deemak attempted something fresh for Pakistani cinema – a serious, polished supernatural thriller – praising its cinematography, editing, and the strong performances. He highlighted Faysal Quraishi’s screen presence and commitment, along with Sonya Hussyn’s powerful moments, though he felt Samina Peerzada’s role was less impressive.
On execution, I think the movie did really, really well.
Rabia Mughni, FUCHSIA
Rabia felt the film’s execution was very strong and appreciated how it explored themes like generational trauma, negativity, and depression, further praising its attempt to address these deeper issues.
According to me, the major highlight were the performances.
Buraq Shabbir, BBC Urdu
Buraq also pointed to the film’s performances as its standout strength, saying the cast, including Sonya Hussayn, Faysal Quraishi, and even Samina Peerzada, brought the characters to life convincingly. She added that the cinematography and the overall look of the characters added to the film’s impact.
Where Did Deemak Fall Short?
The problem is we couldn’t tell how and where things will link.
Kamran Jawaid, DAWN
Kamran felt the film suffered from poor narrative linkage, pointing out that the opening scene had no connection to the rest of the story, which came across as naïve and disjointed. He emphasized that including segments without considering how they fit weakened the overall plot.
I thought the story was a windmill. Plus, there were so many typical horror scenes.
Rabia Mughni, FUCHSIA
Rabia felt the story of Deemak went around in circles, relying on typical and predictable horror scenes without offering anything new.
My problem with the film was that it tried to touch on a lot of things but it did not all come together at the end.
Buraq Shabbir, BBC Urdu
Buraq agreed, adding that Deemak tried to tackle too many things at once without tying them together properly. She described the first half as dragging, with disconnected story elements – like the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict – that felt stitched together instead of forming a cohesive whole.
If you’d like to catch up more, listen to the full conversation below!
