Getting Candid With Team Parchi

The first Pakistani movie for 2018, Parchi released on more than 100 screens across Pakistan on January 5, 2018. It hit cinemas in USA, UAE & Canada on the 12th of January 2018 and in France on the 19th of January 2018.

Soon after the release of its trailer, and songs, ‘Billo Hai’ and ‘Imagine,’ the audience waited eagerly for its release.

GLOSS got a chance to catch up with Imran Raza Kazmi, Hareem Farooq and Ali Rehman to get a sneak-peek into their characters and the movie itself.

Tell us about Parchi?
Imran Raza Kazmi: Parchi is a full-on action-comedy film, with a love triangle. It is an entire entertainment package for you and your family.

The word ‘Parchi’ we are referring to here is ‘extortion money.’ Unfortunately, in Pakistan, there was a time when this was very common. So, basically, we highlighted that in a comedic way. These situations usually involve kidnappings etc., but we wanted to show people the Pakistani side of the story, where people use extortion money as a means of an easy money-making method. They also forget the impact it has on them and the people around.

Ali Rehman: The film is pretty much what Imran said. It is how one situation leads to another and the cycle never stops; but then it does. It’s a full-on entertainer for everyone.

Tell us a little bit about your respective character and how did you prepare for it?
Hareem Farooq: My character Eman is a total badass, but super emotional as well. She is very different to what I am in real life. Before we had the final version of my character, it had developed really well behind the scenes. She started off as a really mellow person. A major reason to develop that was that we didn’t want to show the heroine to be bubbly. Since our main theme was the ‘parchi system,’ we wanted to incorporate the idea of a woman’s ability to lead men. So, that is what Eman did, watch the movie to find out more.

Ali: My character’s name is Bash. He is a conman who is trying to get away from the mob. He has a particular way of doing things, and his methods get him into trouble. Bash is self-taught, street smart and trusts only a few people. Ahmed Ali and Shafqat Khan, are his best friends. He is always in some sort of a squabble with his brother. Bash doesn’t tell him much about what he does and how he makes his living. The story for my character is how he always gets into trouble and how he overcomes that difficulty.

You guys have worked together in Janaan, how was it doing it again and how different was it from the first time you worked together?
Imran: It’s all about teamwork. Hareem and I have been childhood friends, and we have Arif Lakhani with us. In 2013, I made a film ‘Siyaah;’ a critically acclaimed horror film and Hareem worked with me on that. From there our friendship converted into partnership in the form of IRK Films and rest as they say is history.

Hareem: In 2008, we used to laugh whenever Imran said he wanted to make a film and then he proved himself with ‘Siyaah.’ When we worked on ‘Janaan,’ it wasn’t the first time we had worked together, so the same was when we were doing ‘Parchi.’ It has been great overall.

Ali: I think the more projects you do together, the closer you get. All of us have known each other for a really long time, so it has been a great experience working with the guys this time. The first few weeks are weird, but you get along on a whole new level with time, so it was more comfortable working with the team this time around. Even in Janaan, it was so much easier doing what we did because we were all friends around. It was super fun, a lot of energy and we were always looking forward to it. It never felt like work; it was more like chilling and singing with friends.

We had ‘Siyaah,’ the first horror film in Pakistan, and then we had Janaan that was recognised internationally in UK’s top ten list. Now we have Parchi being the first movie to be shown in the cinemas in Saudi after the lifting of the ban it’s a milestone for ARY Films and the industry overall.

Is it difficult for newcomers to make it in the film industry without connections?
Ali: I will admit that it is definitely not easy, but it is not impossible either. I also don’t think it is about the connections, it’s about how you get yourself noticed, and that’s the toughest part. I come from Islamabad where there is no industry, and it’s hard to get yourself seen in comparison to Lahore or Karachi.

In that case, one has to do some theatre work or short films, and there is obviously no easy way to achieve it. You have to be consistent; you have to really want this. In this day and age, where social media platforms play a significant role in promoting and marketing things, one needs to utilise it in the right way and bring yourself out there.

Billo Hai is the new wedding jam for the season, what are your thoughts on that? Did you expect it to become such a hit?
Imran: We wanted it to be a hit, but we didn’t expect it to be such a hit. It was overwhelming. Two days after the trailer release, it got a million views. I guess when you work hard and you get this response it feels great.

Hareem: It took us 4 months to get this song filmed. Osman Khalid Butt choreographed it, and he is a very old friend who actually got me into acting. He is also very talented to such a point where it gets hard to find things that he cannot do.

Parchi is going to be one of the first films to hit the KSA screens once they reopen, what are your thoughts on being screened internationally that too in KSA?
Imran: It is quite an honour, and we are very proud. It’s taking Pakistan to a global level and taking away the negative image of the country. We had ‘Siyaah,’ the first horror film in Pakistan, and then we had Janaan that was recognised internationally in UK’s top ten list. Now we have Parchi being the first movie to be shown in the cinemas in Saudi after the lifting of the ban. It is a milestone for ARY Films and the industry overall.

Ali: It’s great that our Saudi brothers and sisters will get to watch the film. It’s the first time a Pakistani movie is going there. I don’t think they even knew we had Pakistani films. It would be great for them to see a movie like Parchi. They will definitely get an idea that we can make exciting films and if there is an audience there then they will probably tune into Pakistani cinema more.

How was the experience working for Parchi?
Hareem: There were days where it was really overwhelming; acting and producing together. Then there were also days where I found it really hard and Imran would come up to me and say “Ho jaye ga yaar.”

Imran: She has done a really great job. Producing and acting together is very difficult and she handled it perfectly. I can now say that I believe it when they say women are multi-taskers.

Hareem: I would like to give it all to the team. ARY Films is one film house in the industry that doesn’t just say it believes in women empowerment, they implement it. It is different when your father, brother empowers you and it is different when a friend or a man in the field authorises you. Imran always puts me in the front. So it is not only about securing and encouraging them but actually empowering them.

What are your views on the ‘new-age cinema’ in Pakistan? Are we doing enough as an industry to create a film environment?
Ali: I think we are doing enough in the present, but I also believe that we are doing more than what we need to be doing. By more, I mean we are always looking for something better to do. We are adapting, and we are evolving. We are accepting new technology, accepting new people, welcoming younger editors, photographers and writers. You don’t have to be old to do it. It’s a flexible industry, and we are definitely moving in the right direction.

Ali, we have seen the whole hair and moustache transformation, was it specifically for the role? Also, how is your character different from the others that you have played?
Ali: Yes, the transformation is specified for the role. My character is very different from the others that I have played. He is a very comedic character and a serious one at the same time. His comedy is in his seriousness. He is not a goody-two-shoes. Bash has his own way of loving or hating someone. A very complex character I can say from the previous ones.

Favourite dialogue from the movie?
Imran: There is this one dialogue I like of Hareem’s, and the way she delivers it, is fantastic. The dialogue is, “Ek chai cheeni rok key, patti thok key” (One cup of tea with no sugar, and strong.)

Hareem: There are so many I can’t focus on just one.

Ali: There is a dialogue I really like but it’s a spoiler, so I will tell you the one I like from the trailer, “Sweetness, itni meethi toh tum bhi nahi ho keh merey loser doston ki khairat mein madad kero. Zarur meethay mein kuch namkeen hai” (Sweetness, now you can’t be that sweet that you want to help my loser friends in the name of charity. There is something definitely salty in this sweet dish.)

One reason to watch Parchi?
Hareem: I can give you ten. It’s a full-on fun film, with a lot of good humour. No sleaziness. Two hours of entertainment, with a good pace, excellent acting and awesome songs. Billo Hai, Imagine, our Parchi song, and there is no reason for you to not watch it.

Imran: One reason is that I haven’t seen such characters on screen in the Pakistani or Indian cinema. It doesn’t just have a heroine and a hero. It has so many characters that you would come out of cinema not being able to choose a favourite.

What is in the pipeline for you?
Ali: There is a lot of exciting things coming up for me, TV and Film-wise, so you have to stay tuned.

Hareem and Imran: As a company, we have two dramas and a rom-com in the pipeline. We are hoping Hareem officially agrees on playing the lead in the movie so we will confirm once everything is in place and ready to be announced.