Load Wedding

{{Infobox film

| name = Load Wedding

| image = Load Wedding.jpeg

| alt =

| caption = Film poster

| director = Nabeel Qureshi

| writer = Fizza Ali Meerza
Nabeel Qureshi
Mohsin Abbas Haider

| producer = Fizza Ali Meerza
Mehdi Ali

| starring = Fahad Mustafa
Mehwish Hayat
Samina Ahmed
Faiza Hasan

| narrator = Qaiser Piya

| cinematography = Rana Kamran

| editing = Asif Mumtaz

| music = Shani Arshad

| studio = Filmwala Pictures
Geo Films

| distributor = IMGC
Zee Studios

| released = {{Film date|df=y|2018|08|22|Eid al-Adha}}

| runtime = 135 minutes{{cite web|url=http://mecinemas.com/movie_details.php?code=HO00000193|title=Load Wedding (ME Cinemas)|accessdate=23 August 2018}}

| country = Pakistan

| language = Urdu
Punjabi

| budget = {{PKRConvert|6|c}}{{cite news|author=Mohammad Kamran Jawaid|date=30 December 2018|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1454402|title=TRADE: SO, HOW DID THE BOX OFFICE DO?|work=Dawn|accessdate=30 December 2018}}

| gross = {{PKRConvert|13.50|c}}[https://www.facebook.com/loadwedding/photos/a.166565034029846/239098920109790 Load Wedding] on Facebook. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.

}}

Load Wedding is a 2018 Pakistani romantic comedy film, which is directed by Nabeel Qureshi and co-written and co-produced by Fizza Ali Meerza under the banner of Filmwala Pictures. The film stars Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat in lead roles. Released on Eid al-Adha; 22 August 2018,{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1631368/4|title=Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat-starrer 'Load Wedding' to release on Eidul Azha|date=10 February 2018|work=The Express Tribune|accessdate=18 May 2018}} it was distributed by IMGC and Geo Films nationwide, and by Zee Studios internationally.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/342840-|title=Load Wedding partners with Zee Studios for international release|date=17 July 2018|accessdate=22 July 2018|work=The News}}

Cast

Fahad Mustafa as Raja
Sadoon as young Raja
Mehwish Hayat as Meerab "Meeru" Khurram
Hamna Amir as young Meeru
Samina Ahmad as Raja's Mother
Faiza Hasan as Farhana "Baby Baji"; Raja's sister
Noor ul Hassan as Khalil; Raja's uncle
Mohsin Abbas Haider as young Khalil (special appearance)
Qaiser Piya as Nazeer; Raja's best friend
Fahad Khan as young Nazeer
Fahim Khan as Aashiq Rafaqat; TV show host
Hania Amir as young Khalil's love interest (special appearance)
Shanzay Khan as Meeru's sister
Mohammed Ehteshamuddin as Meeru's brother-in-law
Ghazala Butt as Anam
Om Puri as Raja's late father (tribute)
Anjum Habibi
Ghalib Kamal
Kehkashan Faisal
Ijaz
Razia Malik

Production

Fahad Mustafa hinted the film in February 2017.{{cite news|url=http://tns.thenews.com.pk/fahad-mustafa-talks-honestly|title=Fahad Mustafa talks, honestly|date=12 February 2017|accessdate=23 June 2017|work=The News on Sunday|author=Manal Faheem Khan}} Film was announced on 8 December.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/12/09/me|title=Mehwish Hayat, Fahad Mustafa to reunite in Load Wedding|work=Pakistan Today|accessdate=18 May 2018|date=9 December 2017}} This will be his fourth collaboration with director-producer-duo Nabeel Qureshi and Fizza Ali Meerza. Qureshi commented on this that he feels best at working with him, and further revealed that it will be a different film from his previous three films. "There are a lot of things that I and Fizza believe in and we are trying to say them", he said to Gulf News.{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/1.2142835|title=Nabeel Qureshi promises fun with 'Load Wedding'|date=18 December 2017|accessdate=13 June 2018|work=Gulf News|author=Usman Ghafoor}}

This was Mehwish Hayat's third collaboration with the three of them, including 2016 film Actor in Law.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/254520-|title=Mehwish Hayat on starring in Nabeel Qureshi's Load Wedding and working with Fahad Mustafa|date=11 December 2017|accessdate=13 June 2018|work=The News}} She commented on the film that it "tackles social issues prevalent in our society that need to be highlighted", for which her character is different from her previous ones, she said it as "a very traditional desi role".{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/302718-|title="I am an actress and I'm not driven by what the medium is": Mehwish Hayat|date=10 April 2018|author=Maria Shirazi|accessdate=13 June 2018|work=The News}} Meerza commented that they are "truly one of the finest actors our industry has". She said that the film explains "the load that comes" in the society "with the wedding".{{cite news|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/heres-fahad-mustafa-mehwish-load-wedding/|title=Here's why Fahad Mustafa & Mehwish Hayat's next is titled 'Load Wedding'|date=24 April 2018|accessdate=12 June 2018|work=Something Haute|author=Muna Moini}} Mustafa shared with The News, "two of the biggest filmmakers in the country want to work with me and release their films at the same time", where he talked about this film and Nadeem Baig's Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/256497-|title=Touching base with Fahad Mustafa|date=16 December 2017|author=Ahmed Sarym|accessdate=13 June 2018|work=The News}}

On 13 July, HIP reported that Mohsin Abbas Haider has co-written the film, as well as wrote the lyrics for two songs and has sung one of them.{{cite news|url=https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1155280|title=Mohsin Abbas Haider a part of Load Wedding?|date=13 July 2018|accessdate=13 July 2018|publisher=HIP|author=Saira Khan|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226050843/https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1155280|url-status=dead}}

Release

Film teaser was released on 27 June,{{cite news|url=https://www.hipinpakistan.com/news/1155141|title=The poster for Fahad Mustafa, Mehwish Hayat starrer "Load Wedding" leaves us wanting more!|date=19 June 2018|accessdate=28 June 2018|publisher=HIP}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/334602|title=Another Geo Film 'Load Wedding' to be released on Eidul Azha|date=28 June 2018|accessdate=28 June 2018|work=The News|author=Mohammad Nasir}} and trailer on 17 July.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1760716/4|title='Load Wedding' trailer perfectly sets the mood for the summer wedding season|date=18 July 2018|accessdate=24 August 2018|work=The Express Tribune|author=Rahul Aijaz}} The film was premiered on 18 August in Lahore,{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/shows/special-reports/208007|title=Load Wedding Premiere|date=19 August 2018|accessdate=19 August 2018|publisher=Geo News}} on 19 August in Dubai{{cite news|url=https://gulfnews.com/1.2268130|title=Pakistani stars Mehwish Hayat, Fahad Mustafa on artist ban|date=19 August 2018|accessdate=24 August 2018|work=Gulf News|author=Manjusha Radhakrishnan}} and on 21 August in Karachi.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/358623|title=Colourful 'Load Wedding' premiere held in Karachi|date=22 August 2018|accessdate=22 August 2018|work=The News|author=Mohammad Nasir}} It released on Eid al-Adha worldwide; 22 August 2018, and on 23 August in UAE.

Despite getting mostly positive reviews, the film could not manage to do well business at the box office due to very limited number of screens it got, as compared to the competitor films Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 of ARY Films and Parwaaz Hai Junoon of Hum Films. The director Nabeel Qureshi called it "unfair distribution", while the cinemas' management said that the "public demand" was on priority. Geo Films was also blamed for not promoting the film correctly, as others were doing.{{cite news|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/load-wedding-fail-purpose-nabeel-qureshi/|author=Shahjehan Saleem|title="Load Wedding is being sabotaged" – Nabeel Qureshi|date=28 August 2018|accessdate=8 September 2018|work=Something Haute}}{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1789849/4|author=Shaheera Anwar|title=Film-maker Nabeel Qureshi disappointed with not enough shows for 'Load Wedding'|date=29 August 2018|accessdate=8 September 2018|work=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1180763|author=Maliha Rehman|title=Load Wedding received glowing reviews. So why isn't it performing well at the box office?|date=29 August 2018|accessdate=8 September 2018|work=DAWN Images}}

Reception

=Critical reception=

Amna Karim writing for Bolo Jawan gave the film 4 out of 5 stars, appreciating Nabeel Qureshi for bringing a socially responsible narrative to Pakistani cinema.{{cite news|url=https://bolojawan.com/load-wedding-hits-all-the-right-notes//|title=Film Review: Load Wedding Hits All The Right Notes!|accessdate=24 December 2018|work=Bolo Jawan|author=Amna Karim}} Shahjehan Saleem of Something Haute rated the film 4 out 5 stars and said, "the film does suffer from a few hiccups", however, these are not "big enough to affect the narrative", because set on "family problems", it has "the stars along with substance and soul".{{cite news|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/haute-review-load-wedding-entertains-while-delivering-an-important-social-message/|title=Haute Review: 'Load Wedding' entertains while delivering an important social message|date=22 August 2018|accessdate=23 August 2018|work=Something Haute|author=Shahjehan Saleem}} Omair Alavi rated 3.5 stars out of 5 and praised, "Everything from art direction to dialogues to actors' accent is perfect", adding that the social message is something to ponderthe audience.{{cite news|url=https://www.brandsynario.com/load-wedding-review-meaningful-cinema-at-its-best/|title=Load Wedding Review: Meaningful Cinema at its Best|date=22 August 2018|accessdate=23 August 2018|author=Omair Alavi|publisher=Brandsynario}} Sonia Ashraf wrote to DAWN Images praised the film due to the message in love story and most of the characters, but criticized the script length.{{cite news|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1180726|title=Review: Load Wedding calls out toxic desi wedding culture and I am here for it|date=23 August 2018|accessdate=23 August 2018|work=DAWN Images|author=Sonia Ashraf}} Rahul Aijaz of The Express Tribune rated 2 out of 5 stars and said that despite the "strong message" about "social mockery" of marriage concept, the film "fails to be an up-to-the-mark film for multiple reasons."{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1786501/4|title=Load Wedding review: A celebration more like a game show|date=23 August 2018|accessdate=23 August 2018|work=The Express Tribune|author=Rahul Aijaz}}

=International screening=

The film was screened at the 2019 Jaipur International Film Festival, and was nominated in the category of Best Film.{{cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1887374/4|title='Load Wedding' nominated at Rajasthan International Film Festival|date=13 January 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|work=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/load-wedding-nominated-in-best-film-category-at-rajasthan-international-film-festival/|title=Load Wedding nominated in Best Film category at Rajasthan International Film Festival|date=14 January 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|work=Something Haute}} It was also screened at the 2019 Rajasthan International Film Festival, and it won in the category of Best Feature Film International.{{cite news|url=https://galaxylollywood.com/2019/02/04/load-wedding-wins-best-film-rajasthan-international-film-festival/|title='Load Wedding' wins Best Feature Film at Rajasthan International Film Festival|date=4 February 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=GalaxyLollywood.com|author=Iman Ali Munshi}}{{cite news|url=https://veryfilmi.com/load-wedding-wins-viewers-choice-awards-at-riff-2019/|title=Load Wedding Wins Best Feature Film Award at RIFF 2019|date=4 February 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=veryfilmi.com|author=Kayenat Kalam}}

=Home media=

The film had its television premiere on 16 February 2019 on Geo Entertainment, and it was premiered on YouTube on 27 February.{{cite news|url=https://galaxylollywood.com/2019/01/04/load-wedding-netflix/|title=Fahad Mustafa and Mehwish Hayat's "Load Wedding" coming on Netflix|date=4 January 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=GalaxyLollywood.com|author=Ozair Majeed}}{{cite news|url=https://veryfilmi.com/fahad-mustafa-mehwish-hayats-load-wedding-to-be-available-on-netflix/|title=Fahad Mustafa – Mehwish Hayat's Load Wedding To Be Available On Netflix|date=4 January 2019|accessdate=5 February 2019|website=veryfilmi.com|author=Hira Ahmed}}

=Digital release=

The film was made available on Amazone Prime Video to stream online.

Accolades

class="wikitable"

! Ceremony

! {{won}}

! {{nom}}

18th Lux Style Awards
{{cite news|title=A list of everyone who went home a winner from the Lux Style Awards 2019|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1183209|accessdate=9 July 2019|date=7 July 2019|work=Dawn Images}}

Fahad Mustafa – Best Actor (Critics' choice)
Mehwish Hayat – Best Actress (Viewers' choice)

Filmwala Pictures – Best Film
Nabeel Qureshi – Best Director
Mulazim Hussain, Missal Zaidi for "Rangeya" – Best Playback Singer

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = Load Wedding

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Shani Arshad

| cover =

| alt =

| released = 1 August 2018

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Filmi Soundtrack

| length = 18:18

| language = Urdu
English
Punjabi

| label = Zee Music

| producer =

| prev_title = Na Maloom Afraad 2

| prev_year = 2017

| next_title = Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{External media

| audio1 = {{YouTube|KNn-lPXDQAo|Audio jukebox}}

}}

Like previous films for the director-producer-duo, this time also the music has been composed by Shani Arshad. The soundtrack album was released on 1 August 2018 by Zee Music Company.{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/348767-|title=Load Wedding music album to release tomorrow under Zee Music|date=31 July 2018|accessdate=1 August 2018|work=The News}}

{{tracklist

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| total_length = {{Duration|m=18|s=18}}

| title1 = Rangeya

| extra1 = Mulazim Hussain, Missal Zaidi

| lyrics1 = Shani Arshad

| length1 = 4:00

| title2 = Kooch Na Karin

| extra2 = Azhar Abbas

| lyrics2 = Haleem Jalandari

| length2 = 4:36

| title3 = Munday Lahore De