Too long, but entertaining

REVIEW: Mehboob Bawa

PAKISTAN’S most expensive film to date is an entertaining romantic action drama that showcases the acting and musical talents of its producer/star Ali Zafar, ably supported by a talented cast. The length, as a result of many action sequences, detracts from the enjoyment somewhat, but there’s still lots of fun on offer.

Although the story is set in the world of shady businessmen and gangsters, débutante director Ahsan Rahim helms the proceedings with a light touch, infusing a pleasurable romcom aspect coupled with a great music score and thrilling action sequences into the plot.

Teefa is the go-to guy for Butt Sahab. When Butt discovers that his childhood friend Bonzo has decided to marry his daughter Anya to a rival businessman and not to his son, he is enraged.

Butt engages Teefa to kidnap Anya and bring her from her family home in Poland to Pakistan, so that he can have her marry his son.

Teefa agrees after Butt offers him a hefty fee, which will help him move out of crime and realise his dream of running a legitimate business.

Completely out of his depth, Teefa, a loveable rogue, enlists the help of a friend, Tony, to assist him with this task. Anya has plans to run away from home, as she is in love with someone else and has no intention of marrying the suitor chosen by her father.

Teefa’s kidnap plans are made easier with Anya believing that he has been sent to assist her in escaping.

They arrive on her wedding day and whisk her away with Bonzo’s goons hot on their trail. Eventually, through a series of escapades in which Teefa and Anya start developing feelings for each other, they find their way to Pakistan, where Teefa hands her over to Butt and Anya finally discovers that this was just a job for him. But Teefa’s true feelings for Anya ensure that he sets matters straight and this leads to a further series of madcap events.

Rahim directs with a deft touch, eliciting wonderful performances from a talented cast. But he fills the film with one action scene too many. While these scenes showcase the skilful abilities of his star, Zafar, they add to the length.

At just over two-and-a-half hours, the film could have easily lost 20 minutes. The opening sequences move at a frenetic pace with the introduction of Teefa and the role he plays in Butt’s operation.

Zafar is wonderful as Teefa. He is a capable singer and dancer and excels in the song sequences.

A Pakistani by birth, this is his first role in a film produced in his home country, having performed initially in many Bollywood films. He’s certainly learnt from his time in Hindi cinema, as his debut production as a producer carries all the hallmarks of the best commercial Bollywood releases.

Cinematographer Zain Haleem captures the scenic locations of Pakistan and Poland perfectly.

While the screenplay is good, the motivation of some lead characters, especially Anya, is inconsistent.

Despite the flaws there is a lot to enjoy and Teefa may just return with further rollicking adventures.