Recently, I was surfing for some Pakistani movies to watch, but I couldn’t bear the typical cliché commercial movies that were out there these days. Perhaps this led me to dig more, and I came across Fawad Khan’s Money Back Guarantee.

This masterpiece is probably the most underrated movie in the Pakistani cinema, and it’s evident why. Who likes a reality check? Certainly, no one from our political and societal panel.

Digging down the rabbit hole was a blessing because I will never forget how much I enjoyed this satirical comedy (that has THE Fawad Khan too).

Disclaimer: If any part of this film bears resemblance to you or your country…you flatter yourself!

Meet the Cast of Money Back Guarantee

Faysal Qureshi’s directorial debut, Money Back Guarantee (MBG), had a star-studded ensemble cast featuring:

• Fawad Khan
• Hina Dilpazeer
• Gohar Rasheed
• Javed Sheikh
• Mikaal Zulfiqar
• Kiran Malik
• Adnan Jafar
• Ayesha Omar
• Wasim Akram and Shaniera Akram
• Muniba Mazari
• George Fulton

The film was released on April 21, 2023, during Eid al-Fitr, and it’s safe to say that the audience at that time didn’t expect what was coming for them. Maybe this is why it didn’t click with them, as the film was truly ahead of its time.

They Did it for the Plot (Quite, Literally)

Ah yes, the critics called it “confusing,” “incoherent,” and accused it of “trying to do too much.” To that, I say: exactly. When has great art ever been understood in its time?

The story follows a diverse group of misfits plotting a bank robbery, not just for cash, but as a rebellion against a broken system. Don’t let the slapstick fool you; beneath the jokes lies a razor-sharp commentary on class inequality, greed, and the shattered promises of democracy.

The film boldly explores the tug-of-war between capitalism and socialism, touching on a buffet of societal ailments: corruption, VIP culture, stereotyping, theft, political point-scoring, systemic injustice, and good old-fashioned discrimination.

It strikes a tone that’s equal parts satire and absurdist dramedy. What makes Money Back Guarantee remarkable is that it knows it’s ridiculous, yet it leans in unapologetically. The plot is carried by a chaotic ensemble of lovable degenerates who, while embodying chaos, also hold up a mirror to the very values the film critiques.

These degenerates represent Pakistan’s ethnic mosaic, each one a caricature drenched in irony. The film both mocks and magnifies the stereotypes society won’t let go of: Pushtoons as “dumb,” Christians as “Karanta” or “Choora” (slurs we still haven’t retired), Punjabis as “forever hungry,” and more.

Symbolism has been used at a stretch in the film, with the setting taking jabs at the core values of the subjects it inhabits.

Spoiler alert: Even Donald Trump has a cameo in this film… almost. Here is a glimpse:

The Main Roles: Fawad Khan and Wasim Akram

Now, onto the main point, Fawad Khan. Let’s not pretend that we didn’t go for Fawad Khan. We always go for Fawad Khan. In MBG, Fawad plays the polished face of a broken system; a man who can talk about economic reform while pocketing your wallet.

Fawad’s role as a cheapskate bank manager, Bux, who caters only to the wealthy and listens only to the powerful, is written to perfection. Tell me this doesn’t sound familiar! That’s an average “guy in finance” in Pakistan. Funny how midway in the movie, the film feels less satirical and more and more relatable.

His dialogue delivery and maniacal expressions are beautiful, to say the least. You can see why he is the highest-paid actor in Pakistan, specifically through this role.

However, I do have one complaint: Fawad should’ve gotten more screen time, but then again, maybe the whole point was to keep us wanting more. The corrupt elite never show up too much; they just hover around the edges, pulling strings while the rest of us flail around in chaos.

Now onto the other main lead that also debuted with this movie: Wasim Akrim. One might think that this cricketer turned actor was a bad choice, but surprise, surprise, turns out he is an all-rounder. Apart from the iconic “Ariel Ariel” ad, the cricketer also excels in acting.

There’s something weirdly perfect about casting a national cricket legend as a cold, corporate puppet master. The same guy who once swung Yorkers now swings economic jargon like he’s been doing this all his life.

And Shaniera Akram? She plays the white-saviour role with such self-aware irony that you almost forget she’s an actual NGO figure in real life.

The Film was Truly Ahead of its Time

All in all, Money Back Guarantee needs to be watched for the variety it offers in terms of cast and characters, the awami comedy, the political jabs and definitely the scope of production.

Perhaps, if only it were released today, it might have gotten the recognition it deserves. But satire, that’s a mirror that never works well in our society, does it? We are better off with commercialised Bollywood-ish rom-coms that don’t burst our bubbles.

But for what it is worth, we really need to give the movie a try, and best believe you won’t be asking for your money back. You’ll be asking why we don’t make more films like this.