Haute review: London Nahi Jaunga promises power-packed entertainment on Eid

First, it was Mehwish Hayat’s character who was hesitant of travelling to Punjab in Nadeem Baig’s previous box office hit, Punjab Nahi Jaungi. Nearly five years, a pandemic and an economic crisis later, we have Humayun Saeed as Chaudhry Jameel who isn’t willing to go to London. Any guesses why?

The trailer of London Nahi Jaunga (LNJ) reveals that our hero, Jameel, believes in love and isn’t happy to get engaged without any feelings for his bride-to-be. He calls such a marriage ‘niri besuadi‘ [absolutely tasteless], however his mother dreams of seeing his jawan puttar as groom and family traditions won’t let him live or love in peace.

The moment Jameel takes an oath ‘Mein London Nahi Jaunga’

Jameel is a Jutt with attitude, yet he is the most gullible fellow. He is enveloped in misfortunes: his bride faints at the ring ceremony, the engagement turns into a nikkah, a possibly ridiculous bet (which he may have lost) leads him to an engagement with Kubra’s character, his resolution to marry a non-Pakistani girl, and eventually he falls in the trappings of unrequited love.

Our hero after being rejected

Although there are sparks oozing from the London girl, Mehwish Hayat’s character is not willing to accept Jameel’s heart. It was intentional or misleading, the reasons behind them falling apart are yet to be seen. However, the classic dialogue ye shadi nahi hoskti makes the dramatic journey all the more appealing and worth waiting for.

Read: At the London Nahi Jaunga trailer launch

Mehwish and Humayun’s chemistry sets the screen on fire whenever they appear together, and LNJ makes the most of an already hit jori, with settings, scenes and dialogues turning 10 times more larger than life. Then there is a lovelorn character played by Kubra who doesn’t believe in coercion in love, yet her dialogues are quite manipulative.

Kubra Khan, possibly Jameel’s fiancee

This time Humayun’s most trusted buddy is played by Gohar Rasheed. The cast features veterans like Sohail Ahmed, Salman Shahid, Saba Hamid, Saba Faisal as well as Iffat Omar and Vasay Chaudhry amongst others.

Featuring heart-wrenching songs, dance numbers, fight sequences, hilarious one-liners, mysterious hints about a family tragedy, the film is packed with all the masala needed for a entertaining story on Eid. With Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar’s gripping dialogue and Nadeem Baig’s aesthetic values, London Nahi Jaunga hits all the right notes.

After seizing attention with a couplet like Jahan pe tum ko rakha tha wahan per heart hota ha… Mohabbat science hoti ha bicharhna art hota ha, will our Chaudhry learn to cope up with loss or end up in London to steal his bride? Let us take an oath ‘cinema zarur jaungi/jaunga’ to find out.

Produced by Salman Iqbal, Humayun Saeed, Jerjees Seja, Shahzad Nasib, London Nahi Jaunga will release in cinemas across Pakistan on Eid ul Azha.