Zill-e-Shah

Zill-e-Shah
Directed by	Shaan
Produced by	Fyaz Khan
Written by	Pervez Kaleem
Starring	Shaan Saima Noor
Music by	Zulfiqar Ali
Release dates	October 5, 2008 (2008-10-05)
Country	Pakistan
Language	Punjabi

Zill-e-Shah is a Pakistani film, in the language of Punjabi, the sequel to blockbuster movie Majajan.

Synopsis

Kulsoom (Noor) is engaged to Sarwar Shah (Babar Butt), but she is deeply in love with Zill-e-Shah (Shan), whom she knows from childhood. So kulsoom's marriage is sealed, but in an encounter Zill-e—Shah kills Sarwar, therefore he is sent to Jail.

Then an unfortunate incident occurs, when Kulsoom marries Abid Shah (Shafqat Cheema), the elder brother of Sarwar. Noor is in discomfort, but so is Zill-e, as he gives up his life of luxury,and goes in the realms of dancing girls and becomes an alcoholic. Soon he meets a Stara (Saima) a dancer, who he falls in love with, What will be the consequences of his actions? This does not make any sense if this is sequel to the movie title Majajan, Zill-e-shah is supposed to kill his wife's brother.

Film release

As soon as the film was released, the audience flocked to the cinema houses to watch the film. It has become the first film in the history of Lollywood to be re-released in cinema houses across the country, within only a few weeks of it completing a (fair-to-middling) run at the ticket windows. What's more, the film's (re)release date - February 13 - has pitched it famously against the Bollywood giant, named Billu starring Shah Rukh Khan, Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta.

Fayyaz (the producer) is not content with just rave reviews and a local re-release. He has already planned an international premiere for the film. "We're releasing the film in UK on March 6, with six prints. Before that, we're going to have a grand premiere in Manchester for which we'll be flying our lead actors with us."

The excited producer also spoke of a Dubai release sometime later. Plans were underway for Zill e Shah's premiere in Indian Punjab too, but Fayyaz said, it might have to wait.

Production

Made on a budget of around two crore rupees, unheard-of for a Punjabi film, Zill e Shah attracted popular attention not much because of its print ads but its promotional videos that ran on the various local TV channels. Shot aesthetically, thanks to actor cum director Shaan, the film instantly generated box office heat. For one thing, the songs are a visual delight, and surely Noor and Saima have never looked better.

The producer said: "The entire post of Zill e Shah was done in Mumbai's famous Adlabs, also one of the world's most expensive production houses. Whoever had a chance to watch the rushes simply loved the film. I was hoping for a grand premiere in India, but I don't know if that will be possible now, given the current political situation between the two countries."

Cast