2013 is known as the year Pakistani cinema started to revive it self, 2015 assures to be the year that will reinforce position of Pakistani cinema as an industry that is. This year over a dozen films are in line to be released, these are exhilarating times to be a cinema goer in Pakistan. This year, we have raunchy comedies to college romances, tragic love stories to biopics to grace our cinema screens.

Here are ten Pakistani films that we can really look forward to this year.

3 Bahadur

Date of release: May 22, 2015
Director: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
Cast: Alyy Khan, Behroz Subzwari, Khalid Ahmed, Hanzala Shahid, Muneeba Yaseen, Zuhab Khan, Mustafa Changezi and Bassam Shazli

3 Bahadur is going to be Pakistan’s first 3D animated feature film and first ever Pakistani film made specifically for children. With Sharmeen as the captain of the ship, we have guarantee that the production quality will be at its best.

It is high time that young audiences of Pakistan are delivered with animated heroes that look like them, speak their language, live in cities similar to their own and face the kind of problems that they face. Therefore, 3 Bahadur is something to watch out for.

Manto

Release Date: Summer 2015
Director: Sarmad Khoosat
Cast: Sarmad Khoosat, Sania Saeed, Saba Qamar, Adnan Siddiqui, Mahira Khan, Imran Abbas, Nimra Bucha, Faisal Qureishi, Humayun Saeed and Savera Nadeem

Films is about Manto’s real life and the lives of the fictional characters in his stories, something that has never been done before in any Pakistani film. The film’s chronicle promises to be new, appealing and thoroughly fascinating.

A good number of members of our the television industry is playing a cameo in the film. Manto also has a great soundtrack, sung by Meesha Shafi and Ali Sethi.

Hijrat

Release date: Eid-ul Fitr
Director: Farouq Mengal
Cast: Rabia Butt, Asad Zaman, Rubab Ali, Nadeem Baig, Jamal Shah, Ayub Khouso, Durdana Butt, Azra Aftab, Zeb Rehman, Mahjabeen, Saima Balouch and Fahd Nur

Film has so many attractive faces in it – this can be one reason to look forward to. Hijrat potentials to be a sight for tender eyes. Furthermore, Farouq Mengal is recognized for his impressive television productions and if he conveys a analogous visual to the movie, we can expect for a studied and pleasant cinematic experience.

Moor

Date of release: 14 August 2015 (speculated)
Director: Jami Mahmood
Cast: Hameed Sheikh, Samiya Mumtaz, Shaz Khan, Abdul Qadir, Shabbir Rana, Sultan Hussain, Nayyer Ejaz, Ayaz Samoo, Sonya Hussain and I.R. Omer

It took many years to make Moor, therefore, eagerness is high for this film. For people like me who have not travelled to the province of Balochistan, the film capacities to captivate with its picturesque shots of beautiful Balochistan; the story, from what I have heard is quite spellbinding.

Ho Mann Jahaan

Release Date: Eid-ul Azha
Director: Asim Raza
Cast: Mahira Khan, Adeel Hussain, Sheheryar Munawwar Siddiqui and Sonya Jehan

I think we had quite a dose of action and war related films recently some we have seen and some we are hearing about hitting cinema screens soon. In this time Ho Man Jahan seems to be a fresh change where it celebrates moments from our lives that are little yet imoportant, a movie which is about moments we all can relate to.

Star cast of the film, in terms of cinema, is quite fresh and young. In terms of Music this movies seems to be great fun having artists in line up such as Atif Aslam, Zeb Bangash, Asrar, Tina Sani and Jimmy Khan. Designers like Feeha Jamshed and Ismail Farid taking on the job of costume design. Lastly, if you are an IBA Karachi student (Or you have been in IBA student or you are someone like me who wants to be an IBA student at least once) there is no purpose for you to not watch Ho Man Jahan because most of the film was filmed at the IBA campus.

Jawani Phir Nahi Ani

Release Date: Eid-ul Azha
Director: Nadeem Baig
Cast: Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Vasay Chaudhry, Ahmed Ali Butt, Sarwat Gillani, Aisha Khan and Mehwish Hayat

A comic story based in Bangkok, in its place of the done and dusted underbelly of Karachi, and the acting flairs of its cast members is why one should look forward to Jawani Phir Nahi Ani. Time will tell if this film can live up to the hype it has already created and can keep the comedy elegant, it will also be interesting to see JPNA having a match with Ho Man Jahan since both are releasing on the same day.

Bin Roye

Release Date: 18th July 2015
Director: Momina Duraid
Cast: Mahira Khan, Humayun Saeed, Javed Shaikh, Zeba Bakhtyar and Armeena Rana Khan

This film is based on a novel of Farhat Ishtiaq, and looking at the previous out come of the combination fo Mahira Khan and Farhat Ishtiaq’s novel (Hamsaffar) one can expect something great out of it. The trailer of the film also assures it to be a powerful drama with some real intense acting performances. Since Mahira Khan is making quite some news with her appearance in Bollywood this bit can be an advantage to Bin Roe and many would like to watch this film to compare the acting of Mahira Khan in a Pakistani film and her acting in a Bollywood flick.

Kambakht

Release Date: Sumers 2015
Director: Hamza Ali Abbasi
Cast: Humayun Saeed, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Shehreyar Munawar Siddiqui, Shafqat Cheema, Saba Qamar, and Sohai Ali Abro

Trailer of the film came out last year and managed to make some news and hype. This film can be look forward to because of its interesting plot, and also this film is an action comedy which can be an interesting combo to look forward especially to see how different it will be from the action and comedy films we had in past.

Karachi Se Lahore

Release Date: 31st July, 2015
Director: Wajahat Rauf
Cast: Shehzad Sheikh, Ayesha Omer, Ahmed Ali, Aashir Wajahat, Yasir Hussain, Javed Shaikh, Eshita Syed, Mantaha Tareen, Rasheed Naz

One reason to look forward to this film (no I wont say the Item Song of Ayesha Omer) is that it is Pakistan’s first ever road comedy film. Therefore, it will be fun to watch how this is executed and from the trailer film seems to be quite hilarious and interesting. This film is going to be directorial debut of Wajahar Rauf and movie debut of Ayesha Omer and Eshita Syed.

Dekh Magar Pyaar Se

Release Date: August 2015
Director: Asad-ul-Haq
Cast: Humaima Malick, Sikander Rizvi

Dekh Magar Pyar Se is perhaps the only ‘Romcom’ going to be released this year by Pakistani film industry. Humaima is making a comeback to Pakistani cinema after her stint in Bollywood last year. Sikandar Rizvi is making his debut with this film, Sikandar is grandson of Madam Noor Jahan. From the teaser, poster, and recently released first look this film seems to be an elegant piece of cinema that one can look forward to.