We’re all for supporting local cinema but there is this constant outcry from cinema-goers that some aspects of Pakistani films are looking very Bollywood-esque, meaning that we are chappo-ing. The songs, the wardrobe, the scenes – a lot of it is being copied. So of course, it’s unsurprising that Pakistanis are copying film titles as well. Also, in some cases, the film titles are being copied from our very own Pakistani dramas! A little originality would have been welcome, guys.
We narrowed it down to a few titles that made us go WTF because it appears as if the filmmakers didn’t even try to make an effort with them.
1. Jawani Phir Nai Aani – Yeh Jawani Hai Dewani
It’s not just about the word ‘Jawani’, which is such a glaring common denominator that yes, it does make us think of this Bollywood movie. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, YJHD features a young Kapoor who is suffering from a bit of a wanderlust that doesn’t let him commit and settle down till he meets the perfect girl. Does that sound similar to JPNA? A little bit. But at least the Indian version shows a group of youngsters who are on the cusp of growing up and settling down. JPNA on the other hand features a very mature and grown up cast (with the exception of Sohai Abro.) I’m not sure if I want to call them ‘jawaan.’
2. Na Baja Na Barati – Band Baja Baraat
This little gem is an upcoming Pakistani film that features Mikaal Zulfiqar and other established actors, such as Qavi khan, Atiqa Odho,and Mehmood Akhtar. What could this film possibly be about; Oh, I know. It’s about a wedding! The Indian counterpart, Band Baja Baraat, was also about weddings. What a lovely coincidence. I mean, how can we blame the filmmakers here? Of course they couldn’t have come up with a new, different title. It’s not our fault if India has already done everything first.
3. Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai – Zindagi Gulzar Hai
Okay so this one isn’t a copy of a Bollywood movie, but it sounds freakishly similar to Zindagi Gulzar Hai, the super popular TV serial featuring Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed. This drama title was a little bit ironic because actually,  zindagi isn’t that gulzar for Sanam Saeed and others, until the very end. Zindagi Kitni Haseen Hai is also a surprise like that because the title of this film is also VERY ironic. Essentially, both titles mean the same thing. How does this happen to our film titles, I don’t understand. With ALL the other words that exist in this world, how?
4. Teri Meri Love Story – Teri Meri Love Story
So here, the filmmakers couldn’t be bothered at all. They thought, who cares what the film is called. Well to be honest, based on the trailer and film reviews, it seems they didn’t care much about the rest of the film either. Regardless, these two are both Pakistani productions: one is a movie which featured Mohib Mirza and Ushna Shah, and the other is a telefilm which featured Danish Taimour and Ayeza Khan. Of all things, this is the telefilm they chose to copy.
5. Bachaana – Bachana
Last but not least, this Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed starrer was a very typically subcontinental movie:Â Pakistani guy, Indian girl, he saves her and helps her get back home while they fall in love. The title is also very familiar and it took us a few minutes to rack up our brains regarding where we’ve heard this it before. Of course! It was that viral song ‘Bachana’ sung by then college going Bilal Khan, who sat at the footpath in LUMS singing this song which became an instant hit propelling him to stardom. How could we have forgotten. Well, at least the filmmakers added an extra ‘a’ in their spelling, otherwise it would have looked like they totally copied it.
