Dark, intense, rich in context, bitter and thought-provoking; the much-hyped and much-awaited Manto welcomed the glitterati of Pakistan’s entertainment industry for its premiere in Karachi and Lahore.
Based on the life of the acclaimed controversial Urdu Short Story Writer, Saadat Hasan, famously known as Manto, the movie is written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by the famous Sarmad Sultan Khoosat. Unleashing the writer’s journey of life after the Independence of Pakistan, the coveted avatar of Manto in the movie is donned by Sarmad himself.
Alongside him is the crème de la crème of the nation’s entertainment industry; featuring Sania Saeed as Manto’s wife, Saba Qamar as Noor Jehan, Hina Bayat, Mahira Khan, Nimra Bucha, Humayun Saeed, Savera Nadeem and Faysal Quraishi.
After its screening at the premiere, reviews from Pakistani stars and the audience have flooded Twitter in all praises for Manto the movie and has even left many viewers teary-eyed.
Read raving reviews by the Twitterati about the movie Manto.
The man who will bring #Pakistan it’s 2nd Academy Award. @lKhoosatSarmad @MantoTheFilm pic.twitter.com/3lh8K3tPFH
— Hadiqa Kiani (@Hadiqa_Kiani) September 9, 2015
Despite having a #rich #subject, #Manto doesn’t #soar. #mantothefilm http://t.co/L5tjuVBg2q pic.twitter.com/nfnqJJqVqT
— Daily Times (@DailyTimes_DT) September 10, 2015
#manto… brilliant brilliant brilliant… congrats to the whole manto team… everything was amazing… but… http://t.co/GPL7hD2FCP
— sami khan (@samikhan421) September 11, 2015
I’ll be thinking about #MantoTheFilm for days. Really intense. A lot to unpack
— hala syed (@halasyed) September 10, 2015
Watched #Manto what a movie… The whole crowd was stunned and in a trance! Lovely movie #MustWatch
— R. (@rija_m) September 10, 2015
The genius of #Manto reminds you that art is always driven by passion not money, mercenary advantage or even family.
— AHI (@aamnaisani) September 10, 2015
Blown away by #Manto the film. 🙏🏻
— Naveen Qazi (@navqazi) September 10, 2015
#MantoTheFilm is dark, intense and very bold. Such an amazing tribute to controversial yet legendary short story writer #Manto
— Danish Mughal (@danishmandd) September 10, 2015
Sarmad Khoosat! Sarmad Khoosat! Sarmad Khoosat! #Manto #JustShortOfWords What he did was something – next level! ❤️ @KhoosatSarmad
— Rania Khan (@RaniaKhanRK) September 10, 2015
Safe to say with @MantoTheFilm Mister @KhoosatSarmad has arrived in Pakistani cinema as a director who just created amazing history! #Manto
— Amber (@amberranaJ) September 10, 2015
In aftershocks of #manto #MantoTheFilm @KhoosatSarmad
— Šåqįb (@saqib_choudhary) September 11, 2015
cinema revival yes! its the filmy music revival too #DMPS #MOOR #MantoTheFilm .. #Luxstyleawards will have to hv film music category in 2016
— UMAIRICA (@Umairmirza) September 11, 2015
Tonight, it’s a date with 1 of the most controversial authors of indo-pak #Manto. #MantoTheFilm pic.twitter.com/MqY21EyiQZ
— Shafiq Ul Hasan (@shafiqulhasan81) September 11, 2015
At #MantoTheFilm premiere #Karachi pic.twitter.com/j7PSfpkkAD
— Furqan T. Siddiqui (@furqantsiddiqui) September 10, 2015
#MantoTheFilm is dark, intense and very bold. Such an amazing tribute to controversial yet legendary short story writer #Manto
— Danish Mughal (@danishmandd) September 10, 2015
I’ll be thinking about #MantoTheFilm for days. Really intense. A lot to unpack
— hala syed (@halasyed) September 10, 2015
Jazbaati manazair after screening of #MantoTheFilm in khi @KhoosatSarmad with teary eyes Saba Hameed @itsmeeshashafi pic.twitter.com/Q7dcjDanEA
— Danish Mughal (@danishmandd) September 10, 2015
But the review that stood out amongst all was by Saadat Hasan Ali Manto’s daughter, Nighat Patel who expressed her deep admiration for Sarmad Khoosat’s acting.
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Read Also: Pakistani Movie Moor to be Pakistan’s Entry for Oscars 2016
It is indeed a proud moment for Pakistan. With the revival of nation’s cinema industry and movies like Manto and Moor, it is time that movie-buffs began preferring and loving our own movies over Hollywood and Bollywood.