Verna

Verna is the first Pakistani movie I have seen in cinema. I made the effort because I respect Shoaib Mansoor directorial style. Bol is one of my all time favourite film and Khuda Ke Liye was great. It takes courage, flair and ingenuity to hold a mirror up to the society and make it entertaining as well.

Verna did not meet my expectations. If Bol is 10 and KKL 8, Verna is only 5. I would still recommend people to watch it, as ShoMan's 5 is a 15 as compared to other directors.

Haroon Shahid is seriously miscast as the husband. The role requires a lot more shades than he is capable of. Pitching an actor in his first role against Mahira Khan does a disservice to both of them. Zarrar Khan is perfect as Sultan. He is charming and scary in turns. Naimal Khawar is given nothing to do. Rasheed Naz and the woman vakil are a bit too over the top in their dramatics.

The main problem with Verna is that it is hard to relate to Sara and her choices. Instead of brave, she comes across as a stubborn and privileged woman, who has complete disregard for the impact her decisions has on everyone around her. The last act of Verna feels more like from a Bond movie than something that can happen in reality.

I guess Pakistan filmmakers are bound by social & political restrictions on what can be shown, but Shoaib Mansoor must be held responsible that Verna is a lot less hard hitting than his previous films.

Final - Despite the flaws, still worth watching. Some TV serials these days are more gripping.

The movie had a good topic, something to shout about but delivered a utterly silly plot hole ridden film. A message which got confused in the seemingly endless sub topics, I wish this film was grittier, darker and less imaginary than it was; so that it could connect with people on a deeper social level. This was just glossing over the real message so not to cause controversy, so much could have been done with the initial basic idea.

Shoaib Mansoor's previous two movies were better and actually tackled things head on and confidently made a statement, Verna in comparison was at best extremely watered down.

A little comical at times due to scenes and plots not being developed enough, for what was marked as a serious release.

Pakistani film making has to stop backtracking on things already explored and be smarter about what's being released, and how stories develop.

The focus has always been on the cast and what actor or actress is playing the lead etc. If the emphasis on the importance of which actors are cast is ignored then maybe things will progress.

Shoaib Mansoor is not mine but around 90% of Pakistanies favorite, And why not, he worked almost in every field i.e. Entertainment like Alpha Bravo Charlie, and then highlighting the transgender's issues via BOL and Khuda Kailye against religious extremists.

When i first saw VERNA trailer, it felt good and I was pretty excited about the movie, but it was a disappointment.

Disappointed in a sense that we as the audience were expecting something more appealing from Shamon on HOT topics like rape and gender-inequality.

After single handedly resurrecting Pakistani Cinema , Shoaib Mansoor returned again with a film based on a topic that strongly needed discussion i.e RAPE ,the films starts with a disclaimer that this film is based on pure fiction as reality is unbearable ,and i believe this to be true with a subject so taboo and difficult to talk about that its difficult to make a film on that is engaging, but i think that he succeeded in making this kind of film , that do leave a a lot of questions in one's mind.Direction was spot on Mahira Khan and Zarrar Khan did an excellent job along with the supporting cast ,music and songs were rightly placed , the only issue i have got is with the story,it was good but could have been much tighter. These kind of films need to succeed as they serve a purpose and everyone should support it by watching it.

Rape is not about sexual pleasure. It is all about power which is practiced ruthlessly to eliminate freedom of an individual on whom it is applied. In societies like ours where understanding and discussion on forbidden topics are taken as taboos, a rape victim becomes liability and a slave of her or his own fears. This miserable situation is not less than a hell built by our own hands.

Depicting social ailment of rape on silver screen has always been a tricky trade but the way Shoaib Mansoor has shown in form of "Verna" is work of a genius. He has not shown anything but he has unraveled everything. He has not said anything but he has declared everything. Though Shoaib Mansoor slightly touched the sensitive issue of rape in his previous two installments "Khuda Kay Liye" and "Bol" but "Verna" is a blatant reality of existence of rape in our society muddled in dirty politics of elites of our time.

Beautiful Mahira Khan who was in and out of controversy lately not only emancipates but alleviates herself gorgeously with her intense portrayal of a rape victim Sara in "Verna". The kind of performance she has given in "Verna" can easily be compared with Jodie Foster's rape-drama of yesteryear "The Accused". Mahira Khan single-handedly propels the plot albeit Shoaib Mansoor's imagination and input cannot be removed but her magnificent ability of reflecting words with believable emotions is extremely engaging and her main USP.

Debutant Haroon Shahid is surprising revelation. The way he has matched with the acting prowess of seasoned Mahira Khan in intense scenes, it does not feel "Verna" is his first acting assignment. Audience first sympathizes and then hates Haroon Shahid's volatile character as husband of Mahira Khan and this does not seem like a work of a first timer but a matured actor.

Zarrar Khan as powerful, flamboyant and moral-less son of feudal lord and Governor is a sort of character one will love to hate. In one of the scenes in which he orders his servant to drink glass of his mouth-gargled water is jaw dropping. Rasheed Naz as Zarrar Khan's lawyer is amusing and gives few moments of humor in an out and out intense drama like "Verna".

Others actors have done satisfactory job as required by director Shoaib Mansoor. Film's cinematography is phenomenal and gives picturesque quality in every scene. Songs are melodious but grim and do not feel like out of place even supports actual pacing of the film.

On the whole, "Verna" is gripping and hits like a solid punch with an unbelievable climax specially penultimate stages when Mahira Khan's father dies which literally gives Goosebumps. If this latest venture of Shoaib Mansoor is marketed well internationally and proper PR is done then it can emerge as worthy contender for Oscars in 2019. Watch "Verna" it will stun you beyond belief.