Balu Mahi

Balu Mahi
Urdu	بالو ماہی
Directed by	Haissam Hussain
Written by	Saad Azhar
Produced by	Sadia Jabbar Chaudry Muhammad Arshad
Starring	Osman Khalid Butt Ainy Jaffri Sadaf Kanwal Durdana Butt
Cinematography	Saleem Daad
Edited by	Rizwan AQ
Music by	Sahir Ali Bagga
Production company	Sadia Jabbar Productions
Distributed by	HKC Entertainment Pakistan Grand Showbiz Media International
Release date	10 February 2017 (2017-02-10) (Pakistan)
Running time	150 min
Country	Pakistan
Language	Urdu
Box office	Rs. 30 million (US$100,000)[1]

Balu Mahi is a 2017 Pakistani romantic comedy film directed by Haissam Hussain, produced by Sadia Jabbar and written by Saad Azhar.^[2][3] A-Plus Films handled distribution of the film in Pakistan, and Grand Showbiz Media handled it internationally.^[4]

Plot

The movie begins with Bilal "Balu" (Osman Khalid Butt) gatecrashing a wedding with the goal of preventing it. He mistakenly believes the bride is his former girlfriend, whom he still loves. The plot thickens when he discovers the bride is Mahi (Ainy Jaffri), not his ex, and that she is being forced into an arranged marriage by her family. Mahi sees Balu's gatecrashing as an opportunity to escape the arranged marriage. They are both on the run now. And try as Balu might, Mahi is not leaving him in peace.^[5][6]

Cast

• Osman Khalid Butt as Bilal 'Balu' Malik
• Ainy Jaffri as Mahi Jahangir
• Javed Sheikh as Hasan's father
• Hina Rizvi as Hasan's mother
• Sadaf Kanwal as Sharmeen Mukhtiyar
• Aliee Shaikh as Polo Coach
• Zeeshan Ali
• Durdana Butt
• Shafqat Cheema
• Adeel Hashmi
• Khurram Pataras

Production

The film is directed by Haissam Hussain. The film has been written by Saad Azhar. Other well-known and credible names associated with the film include producers Sadia Jabbar & Muhammad Ashraf Chaudry Muhammad Arshad Chaudry, and Executive Producer Mian Yousaf Salahuddin HKC Entertainment chairman Hammad Chaudhry, owner of Cinestar in Pakistan, will distribute the film in Pakistan while Grand Showbiz Media is the International Distributor of the film (they have recently distributed the blockbuster Pakistani Film Actor in Law). Other leading industry names associated with the project include music composer Sahir Ali Bagga, who has composed five songs for the film. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan sung a Qawwali titled "Rang De Chunar" where he makes an exclusive cameo for the film.^[7] It starrs Osman Khalid Butt, Ainy Jaffri and Sadaf Kanwal in the lead cast.^[8] The soundtrack is composed by Sahir Ali Bagga. The dance in the film is choreographed by Pappu Samrat and Wahab Shah, whilst Saleem Daad served as the Director of Photography (DOP).^[9]

Filming

The shooting of the film began in January 2016. The film was shot in scenic locations of Northern Pakistan.^[10]

Release

The film is released in Pakistan on 10 February 2017.

Home media

World television premier of the movie was held by Geo Entertainment on Eid ul Adha 2018.

Digital media

The film was released later on Netflix as VOD.^[11]

Box office

The film collected approximately Rs. 25–30 million at the worldwide box office.^[1]

Critical reception

Rafay Mahmood of The Express Tribune rated 3/5 and commented, "Balu Mahi is long but not tiring. Watch it so see Pakistani actors shake a leg in style".^[12]

Mehreen Hasan of DAWN Images also rated 3/5 and said, "Balu Mahi is a rom-com with some dark, dramatic moments, but perhaps it's better described and digested as a fantasy film."^[13]

Buraq Shabbir of The News praised its cinematography and said, "While the narrative isn't extraordinary or truly original, Balu Mahi has a comedic undertone that keeps the viewer intrigued throughout."^[14]

Shahjehan Saleem of Something Haute gave it 3 out 5 stars and said, "the film ends up confused between what it wants in a lot of places, where forced drama, equally confusing moments of conflict, and dance sequences come in."^[15]

Mehar Khursheed of Newsline commented, "The movie has several moments of hilarity and the acting is more than adequate, worth watching for pure entertainment value."^[16]

Hamza Shafique of Dubai Desi Reviews gave film 1.5 out of 5 desi stars and commented, "Balu Mahi feels like a teen YouTuber's halfhearted attempt to create a parody of Jab We Met and Dil Bole Haddipa."^[17]

Accolades

Ceremony	Won	Nominated
17th Lux Style Awards [18][19]		Best Film Osman Khalid Butt – Best Actor Ainy Jaffri – Best Actress Haissam Hussain – Best Director Durdana Butt – Best Supporting Actress Sadaf Kanwal – Best Supporting Actress
4th Galaxy Lollywood Awards[20]	Wahab Shah – Best Choreography for "Balu Mahi"	Best Film Ainy Jaffri – Best Actor in a Leading Role Female Haissam Hussain – Best Director Sadaf Kanwal – Best Performance in a Comic Role Osman Khalid Butt – Best Male Debut Sahir Ali Bagga – Best Playback Singer Male for "Tu Kia Janey" Sahir Ali Bagga – Best Music Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffri – Best Dance Performance for "Balu Mahi" Hina Rizvi – Best Special Appearance Osman Khalid Butt and Ainy Jaffri – Best On-Screen Couple for "Balu Mahi"

Soundtrack

All music is composed by Sahir Ali Bagga.

No.	Song	Singers
01	"Rang De Chunar"	Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Nazish Parvez
02	"Balu Mahi"	Asim Azhar and Aima Baig
03	"Bechaniyaan"	Sahir Ali Bagga and Afshan Fawad
04	"Tu Kya Jaane"	Sahir Ali Bagga

See also

• Bin Roye
• Akbari Asghari
• List of Pakistani films of 2017

References

1. "Box Office Update: ‘Balu Mahi’ ends its run and emerges as a FLOP!", Galaxy Lollywood, 21 March 2017.
2. "Which hot onscreen couple will feature in Haissem Hussain's new film Balu Mahi?". Images. 24 December 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
3. "Ainy Jaffri and Osman Khalid Butt pair up for Balu Mahi". The News International. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
4. "Pakistani Movie Balu Mahi Box Office Collection". www.moviedaybusiness.com.
5. "Ainy Jaffri, Osman Khalid Butt to star in upcoming film 'Balu Mahi'". The Express Tribune. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
6. "Ainy, Osman to appear in Balu Mahi". The Nation. 13 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
7. "The first look of Balu Mahi took us back to movies by Sanjay Leela Bhansali". 16 November 2016.
8. Ahmed Sarym (11 February 2016). "Supermodel, Sadaf Kanwal all set for her debut film, 'Balu Mahi'". HIP. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
9. "Pakistani Movie Balu Mahi Trailer Ft. Osman Khalid Butt & Ainy Jaffri: Trailer. Posters, Release Date & BTS Shots". 25 January 2017.
10. "Balu Mahi trailer is everything we had hoped for". 23 December 2016.
11. "Balu Mahi". The Friday Times. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
12. "Balu Mahi review: Paisa vasool but stretches too long". The Express Tribune. Rafay Mahmood. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
13. "Balu Mahi proves Pakistan can't stomach love without marriage". DAWN Images. Mehreen Hasan. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
14. "Balu Mahi: An Entertaining Ride". The News International. Buraq Shabbir. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
15. "Haute Review: When Balu met Mahi". Something Haute. Shahjehan Saleem. 10 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
16. "Movie Review: Balu Mahi". Newsline. Mehar Khursheed. 16 February 2017. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
17. "Balu Mahi-Movie Review". dubaidesireviews.blogspot.ae. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
18. "LSA 2018 entertainment nominations are out now". DAWN Images. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
19. "'Baaghi' and 'Punjab Nahi Jaungi' stole the show at Lux Style Awards 2018". The Express Tribune. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
20. "Winners of Luxus Grand 4th Galaxy Lollywood Awards 2018". GalaxyLollywood.com. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.

External links

• Balu Mahi at IMDb
• Sadia Jabbar Productions at YouTube