Muttahir Ahmed Khan
Finally, the well-awaited light comedy of Ali Zafar “Total Siyapa” is on screen now to entertain the cinema gores and to provide food for thought to the critics. The well-organised and considerably vibrant and glamorous premier was held, the other day, by Geo Entertainment, at a newly built modern cinema of the city, with Ali Zafar onboard. Besides, Aamna Shaikh, Muskan, Humayun Saeed, Ijaz Aslam, Asif Raza Meer and other showbiz stars, media personalities, business icons and people from all walks of life graced the occasion.
The film is a light story, imbued with situational comedy and diversified ironic angles and most of the times, keeps the viewers energetic, smiling and laughing. The locale is of a foreign country that has not been named in the film, and the story revolves around a Muslim youngster Aman Ali from the West (Pakistani) Punjab and a Hindu girl Aasha and her family from the East (Indian) Punjab. The implicit theme of Aman ki Aasha is also traceable from the names of the leading characters, the love-birds. As the plot develops further, it becomes obvious that the message is love and we see that Indian and Pakistani neighbours, fighting each other initially, get united against the Western policeman, in the end, and beat him jointly to avoid his attempt of playing “divide and rule”. So, love is beyond the confinement of religion, nationality and race.
As the story unfolds, we come across the protagonist Aman Ali (Ali Zafar) who is in the city of his girlfriend Aasha (Yami Goutum) to meet her parents for a formal proposal, but, unfortunately lands in a jail after being suspected and arrested by the police, on the way. Aasha, somehow, manages to get him free and tries to take him with her to her parents’ home, but Aman foresees a bad patch in life and suggests her to postpone the program for at least a day. Anyways, he has to surrender before his would-be-wife and, the next moment, he is at the house of Aasha where a series of troubles, nuisances and ridiculous traps is awaiting him desperately. The more he endeavours to do something impressive the more embarrassing situation comes out of those actions. Here, it is desirable to mention that the Punjabi expression “Siyapa” stands for chaotic situation and trouble. In the end, after all little misunderstandings and the conflicts of confusing egos, both Aman and Aasha comprehend the real theme of love and humanity and fall in each other’s arms to stay united forever.
As comedy is always beautifully yoked with the melodies to complement each other, it is surprising that all the soundtracks and certain scenes, that were the part of the teasers and trailers, are not the part of the film. Moreover, it was edited abruptly on some occasion that gives the impression of incoherence. Anyways, Ali Zafar, in addition to being leading male in the movie, is also the playback singer, and musician of it. So far as his acting is concerned, he will have to go beyond that circle that is confining him in all the films such as “Meray brother ki dulhan”, “Chashm-e-baddoor” and the present one.
Muttahir Ahmed Khan is a Pakistan-based educationist, writer, journalist, analyst and a psychotherapist
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