Umair Nasir Ali Publications

Nayab’s strength is in its subtlety. It is not a sensationalised sports fi lm but rather a family drama with its feet fi rmly on the ground Umair’s film ticks a lot of boxes — on a technical level, it is adequately shot by cinematographer Shajee Hasan, edited with precision and care by Rizwan A.Q. (a regular staple of Pakistani films by now) with some very good music by Shani Arshad, Shawn Phocum, Kamran Ullah Khan, Natasha Humera Ejaz and SuperDuperSultan. However, more important than these prerequisites is the fact that the film is an astonishing balancing act. Other than Umair’s preference for quick conclusions of the issues his characters face, he allots adequate time to develop every character, even minor ones such as Nayab’s friend Saadia or Nayab’s love interest Zain (Usama Khan), a good man who loves football and has an entrepreneurial mind (he wants to launch a distilled water business). The romance Nayab and Zain share is meek and old school; they meet at parks, walk a little, maybe go on a non-touchy feely, hanky panky-less date in an amusement park (one notices locations at Port Grand in Karachi, twice) and leave for home — exactly like real-life people. All of this soft development, of course, adds to the runtime. The film is two-and-a-half hours long. The time breezed by for this writer. Good family drama, historically, is always protracted: Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, et al — I am deliberately taking Bollywood examples here since people warmly accept long running times if it is from across the border, but dismiss it with vigour and vehemence by calling it a television drama when Pakistani filmmakers do it.

Javed says, “My character was not all easy as it was quite different from what I usually do in films. I had to work very hard to satisfy my director Umair Nasir in the way he had conceived this character. I am playing a strict middle-class head of the family whose daughter (Yumma Zaidi) is interested in making her career in cricket. This results in lots of twists and turns and drama within the family.”

Director Umair Nasir Ali reflected on the profound connection between the narrative and the city itself, stating: “I think the era of the 90s in Karachi is something that we all experienced so vividly. The disturbances, the instability, and the events we witnessed with our own eyes — they all reside somewhere in our subconscious as memoirs.” He said they “connected the bedrock of our story to the city of Karachi, to a family there, because the impacts somehow link back to the past. What Shahid sahab went through, and the way we portrayed Akbar’s story, shows how Akbar’s narrative is a reflection of that generation which witnessed the changes happening to themselves and their city firsthand, and how those changes affected them.” The director showcased meticulous attention to detail in location selection, from Frere Hall, St Joseph’s College to Port Grand. Each setting appeared to be carefully chosen to enhance the atmosphere and depth of the storytelling. This attention to detail elevates the viewing experience. The movie is made with what I like to call PPD — Pure Pakistani DNA — and shows the very essence of the country and our culture. It shows the good and the bad, things like random shootouts involving ‘namaloom afraad’, college girls asking a Noor bhai to mark their attendance in the register, a father (Jawed Sheikh) showering himself in cologne before going to a shendi, including even the cynicism that grips our nation with dialogues from the father like “ye mulk ab rehne kay qabil nahi raha [this country is worth no longer living in]” — there is a very important and poignant reason for the father’s statement, and it is worth watching the movie to find out.

Nayab is a Pakistani cinematic masterpiece directed by Umair Nasir Ali, starring Yumna Zaidi, Usama Khan, Javed Sheikh, and Adnan Siddiqui. The film takes audiences on a gripping journey through the dreams, resilience, and unbreakable bonds of a family in the heart of Karachi, against the backdrop of the beloved sport of cricket. In a riveting narrative that transcends borders and stereotypes, the much-anticipated film#NaamYaadRakhna takes audiences on an exhilarating journey through the bustling heart of Karachi. Crafted with meticulous detail, this deeply Pakistani coming-of-age story weaves together the dreams of a young, determined girl, the struggles of her once-rising-star brother, and the family’s enduring journey against the backdrop of cricket, passion, and the chaotic past of the city.

At a time when the Pakistani film industry is actively seeing a slump in the release of films, there are a few filmmakers out there who are braving the storm and putting out stories for the silver screen. However, despite even the best of efforts, only a few seem to make their mark on the audiences, who still are finding it hard to come back in droves to the cinemas. This year, however, there seems to be one film and one filmmaker who are proving their potential to bring about a change in the trend, and that’s director Umair Nasir Ali and his film, Nayab. Featuring Pakistani television industry’s current reigning superstar, Yumna Zaidi in her debut, the movie produced by Kenny’s Films and Num Films is an exploration of unfulfilled dreams, societal norms, and deep down, the bonds in our lives that help us continue in a world that is both harsh and unforgiving. The eponymous character, Nayab’s story is such too.

Produced by Kenneyz Films and Num Films and directed by Umair Nasir Ali, Nayab is a movie that will always be recounted as a good one and one that bravely ushered in a new form of storytelling to the fledgling Pakistani cinema-scape. Watch it for the performances.

We at Pakistani Cinema got ahold of Umair Nasir Ali, the director of Yumna Zaidi starrer film ‘Nayab’, to delve deeper into the story and characters of the film, about casting choices and alot more. Head over to our website read this exclusive interview. LINK IN BIO & STORIES ? #NayabTheFilm #UmairNasirAli #YumnaZaidi #UsamaKhan #PakistaniCinemaInterviews

adding visuals to this thought was indeed a challenging task. as Umair Nasir Ali stated "Visualising the storyboard for the Official Video of the National Anthem of Pakistan has been tough and overwhelming. we wanted a video that would beautifully encapsulate the true meaning of our motherland, our beloved Pakistan and be reflective of tolerance, inclusivity and acceptance"

5 campaigns that Umair Nasir Ali Directed won “8” Effies this year. The year 2020 was definitely the most tough and uncertain of times where only the gut and heart led us ahead and made us stronger. Hoping that the times ahead give more opportunities to work from the heart instead of volumes. Much gratitude to All the Production, Creative and Brand teams for the unwavering trust. AND my team that is always there!! 1:- Surf Ramzan 2020 – Neki Nahin Rukegi Effie Gold Award in Season Marketing Category Effie Gold Award in Sustained Growth Category 2:- Ariel Share The Load #workforhome Effie Silver Award in Positive Change – Social Good 3:- Sunlight – “Itna Ziyada” Bronze in Household Supplies & Services 4:- EFU “Humrahi Digital Web-Series” Effie Silver in the Digital Content Category 5:- Lifebuoy Hathon Ki Hifazat – Pakistan Ki Hifazat Effie Gold Topical Marketing Crisis Response Effie Bronze in Peronal Care Effie Bronze Positive Change – Social Good

“Although creating a visually stellar TVC has its own charm, storytelling gives you a real high.”