Film: Ishrat Made In China
Release Date: March 03, 2022
Director: Mohib Mirza
Review By: Sajeer Shaikh
When I was younger, I often read film reviews where critics would, with what I assumed was snark, inform audiences to “leave their brains at home” when going to watch the creative venture. I never understood how one could possibly leave their brain at home, or why anyone would pass a comment that seemed thoroughly mean-spirited. While watching Ishrat Made In China on 2nd March at its Nueplex premier, I began to comprehend from where that advice stemmed.
The Mohib Mirza and Sanam Saeed starrer may masquerade as a quasi-entertaining masala film, but the truth of the matter is that its derogatory premise, and demeaning stereotyping of Chinese representation are its least worrying elements.
Synopsis
The story revolves around Ishrat (Mohib Mirza) – a loafer who loves to break the fourth wall, and adorns himself in clothes that have some form of his multiple catchphrases (OK ki report hai, ponka, and the like) printed across – and his love for Akhtar (Sanam Saeed), who insists that he present her with a gold ring and make things official.
The Problems
Surprisingly, Mohib fails to capture the essence of Ishrat that remained omnipresent in the TV series Ishrat Baji. While it cannot be denied that he may have given his all in attempts to breathe life into Ishrat in this parody format, especially at times when one least expects it, owing to his fluctuating comedic timing, the shoes of the Ishrat of the past seemed to have become too gigantic to fill this time around.
That’s not to say that Mirza doesn’t look good in the film – he does. As does Sanam Saeed, who radiates an aura of breathtaking beauty time and again. One can even argue that the film is aesthetically shot at certain intervals during the course of its long run.
It is, in the end, the lack of cohesiveness in the very basics – casting, direction, and writing (there are editing and sound errors too, but let’s say we forgo those for now) that become the undoing of Ishrat Made In China.
The Character Introduction
While the first half of the film, riddled with quick cuts, and jumps in timelines to establish origin stories, is hard enough to keep up with (mind you, it’s not because the film is that intelligent – it’s just that frustrating) it is almost laughable at how Ishrat’s origin story consists of his father hoping for a girl, and eventually suffering from a heart attack when he sees his “daughter” lift her dress and urinate.
However it’s not enough that Ishrat is somehow held responsible for scarring his father. Another element of his origin story is his Achilles’ Heel – when his bullies (played by Ali Kazmi, Mani, and Mustafa Chaudhary – all of whom have double roles that are taken in stride) tease him by calling him Ishrat Baji, causing him to collapse. It is only Akhtar’s affection-filled cry that can apparently revert a paralyzed Ishrat.
Even if one were to dismiss the logic leaps (and believe you me, this would be a monumental task), arriving at the main premise seems far too unrewarding. Ishrat is approached by a Chinese man who magically knows Urdu despite only having learned the abuses (every speaking Chinese character in this film knows Urdu, by the way) and is presented an opportunity to earn in crores by participating in a donkey race in China – a race we later learn is rigged due to the iron fist rule of Master Mangshi (HSY) over the region.
HSY as Mangshi
I must admit here – HSY, as the intense Mangshi, is a refreshing surprise. With limited dialogues, he makes the role work, and while the character may not be well-conceived, it was, without a doubt, executed to what seemed to be HSY’s absolute best within the circumstances.
Spoiler Alert: Approaching The Climax
Ishrat does make it to China where he is acquainted with Jia (Sara Loren) who fills him in about Master Mangshi’s tyranny, while also making it entirely his problem, leading to a near-death experience which spirals into the Karate Kid like trajectory of rebirth under the watchful eyes of Master BP (Shamoon Abbasi).
Perhaps, Ishrat Made In China would have been a considerably bearable watch, had it been shorter, for if the plot both escalated, yet seemed unnecessary in the first half, it becomes downright stagnant in the second. It could have also done without the repetition of “come on,” another one of Ishrat’s catchphrases.
The Nitty Gritty
The meta jokes become irksome, Mani constantly licking a lollipop despite being an adult seems bizarre, and an otherwise, potentially stellar mix of actors fails to deliver. At times, it seems like even the characters, self-aware as they are, know that parts of the story are completely pointless.
Releasing a film that’s been shot in Pakistan and Thailand, for an audience that is approaching cinemas right on the brink of the world getting out of a pandemic could not have been easy. For that, I feel obliged to salute the cast and crew’s ambition.
The Verdict
The film does, however, fall short in numerous aspects and seems to severely lack logic at multiple points in time, which perhaps is a lesson in itself: not all ambition is worth pursuing if the drive behind it is not as vehement.
Perhaps Ishrat Made In China might entertain all those who just want to visit cinemas after a taxing hiatus. It might even seem hilarious to many, for the production, with all its flaws, is definitely experimental, if nothing else, and does manage to draw out laughter every now and then.
However, is this a film I’d willingly pay to watch again? To repeat Ishrat’s oft-used dialogue – come on!
Rating: 2.5/5
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