Zinda Bhaag


Zinda Bhaag is a 2013 Pakistani Punjabi-language drama film co-directed by Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi, and produced by Mazhar Zaidi. The film focuses on the issue of illegal migration. The film had a premiere show on 19 September 2013 and a wide release on 20 September. The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards, the first in over 50 years.

Plot

Zinda Bhaag unravels the theme of illegal immigration highlighting the issue and the epicentre of this trend within Punjab. The story of Zinda Bhaag unravels the theme of illegal immigration, called ‘dunky’. This involves inhuman and dangerous methods of crossing borders into foreign lands. It is a film about three young men trying to escape the reality of their everyday lives and succeeding in ways they had least expected. In a nondescript neighbourhood of a city within Punjab, three friends are desperate to get onto the fast track to success. Khaldi, Taambi and Chitta, all in their early twenties, believe that the only way out is to the West. The journey that unfolds through the story of this film gives us insight into what constitutes the everyday lives of many young men and women in Pakistan - a sense of entitlement that cannot be fulfilled, desperation to somehow prove themselves in the face of all legitimate doors being locked and an ennui from which they feel there is no getaway.

Cast

The film won four awards at the International South Asian Film Festival in Canada. The film won a 'Special Jury Award' at the Jaipur International Film Festival. The film also received five awards including Best Film at the recently concluded ARY Film Awards held under the aegis of the Pakistani TV channel network, ARY Digital Network. The film also won 'Best Film', 'Best Director' and 'Best Actor' in Pakistan's prestigious 'Lux Style Awards' and the 'Student Jury Award' at Festival du Film d’Asie du Sud Transgressif in Paris.

Soundtrack

Track listing

The original soundtrack of the film, sung by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The film’s music features voices Abrarul Haq, Arif Lohar and Saleema Jawwad. Lohar and Jawwad have sung a song on love and death while Bagga has contributed his vocals to two tracks, an upbeat dance-bhangra number and a romantic ballad.
Track #SongSingerLength
1"Paar Channah"Arif Lohar & Saleema Jawad4:00
2"Saari Saari Raat"Sahir Ali Bagga, Farah Anwar4:00
3"Dekhenge"Jabar Abbas4:00
4"Taariyan"Sahir Ali Bagga4:00
5"Pani da Bulbula"Abrar ul Haq4:00
6"Pata Yaar Da"Rahat Fateh Ali Khan4:00
7"Kurri Yes A"Amanat Ali, Iqra Ali4:00

Release

First look of Zinda Bhaag's trailer was unveiled on 18 June 2013. This film was earlier set to release on 6 September. Due to a backlog of unreleased films, the release of ‘Zinda Bhaag’ was postponed. It released on 20 September 2013. 'Zinda Bhaag' has been released in 10 states of US as well on 18 October 2013.
Zinda Bhaag screened during the seventh edition of the National Film Development Corporation initiative Film Bazaar, in Goa. Film also released in India. The film arrived at Abu Dhabi Film Festival and consequently was theatrically released in the UAE. It was subsequently released on Netflix in 2015.

Accolades

The film received a total of 19-nominations at first ARY Film Awards tying with Main Hoon Shahid Afridi.
Nominated
year of work		AwardCategoryRecipientResult
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Film JuryMazhar Zaidi
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest FilmMazhar Zaidirowspan="2"
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest DirectorMeenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Actress JuryAmna Ilyas
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest ActorKhurram Patrasrowspan="9"
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest ActressAmna Ilyas-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Supporting ActorSalman Ahmad-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressNaghma Beghum-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Star Debut MaleKhurram Patras-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Star Debut FemaleAmna Ilyas-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Actor in a Comic RoleZohaib Asghar-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Actor in a Negative RoleNaseeruddin Shah-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Original MusicSahir Ali Bagga-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Male Playback SingerRahat Fateh Ali Khan
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Male Playback SingerAbrar-ul-Haqrowspan="2"
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Female Playback SingerIqra Ali-
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest StoryMeenu Gaur and Farjad Nabirowspan="2"
20131st ARY Film AwardsBest Background ScoreSahir Ali Bagga-
20131st ARY Film Awards---