Mah e Mir

{{Infobox film

| name = Mah e Mir

| image = Mah e Mir.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name =

| director = Anjum Shahzad

| producer = Sahir Rasheed
Khurram Rana
Badar Ikram

| writer = Sarmad Sehbai

| screenplay =

| story = Sarmad Sehbai

| based_on = Meer Taqi Meer

| music = Syed Shahi Hasan

| starring = Fahad Mustafa
Iman Ali
Sanam Saeed
Alyy Khan
Manzar Sehbai
Syed Fazal Hussain

| released = {{film date|2016|05|06|df=yes}}

| cinematography = Rana Kamran

| studio = Miraqsm Media

| distributor = Eveready Pictures
Hum Films
Columbia Pictures

| runtime = 150 minutes

| country = Pakistan

| language = Urdu

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Mah e Mir ({{langx|ur|{{nq|ماہ میر}}|lit=Moon of Mir}}) is a 2016 Pakistani biographical film directed by Anjum Shahzad, produced by Khurram Rana, Sahir Rasheed, Badar Ikram and written by Sarmad Sehbai.{{cite news|title=The question of who Mir is became the theme of our film, says Mah-i-Mir writer Sarmad Sehbai|url=http://images.dawn.com/news/1175182|accessdate=19 April 2016|work=DAWN Images|publisher=Peerzada Salmaan}} The film is based on the life of the famous poet Mir Taqi Mir,{{cite news|title=Did you know?: Mah-e-Mir a film inspired by Mir unveiled|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/705333/did-you-know-mah-e-meer-a-film-inspired-by-mir-unveiled/|accessdate=24 May 2014|newspaper=The Express Tribune|date=7 May 2014}} played by Fahad Mustafa.{{cite news|title=From Na Maloom Afraad to Mah-e-Mir|url=http://tns.thenews.com.pk/na-maloom-afraad-mah-e-meer/|accessdate=12 October 2014|work=The News|publisher=Omair Alavi}}{{cite news|title=Finding feet in films|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/805850/finding-feet-in-films/|accessdate=14 December 2014|work=The Express Tribune|publisher=Hasan Ansari}}{{cite web|title=Mah-e-Mir's promo leaves everybody star struck|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/05/08/entertainment/mah-e-meers-promo-leaves-everybody-star-struck/|work=Pakistan Today|accessdate=24 May 2014}} The film also stars Iman Ali, Sanam Saeed, Alyy Khan and Manzar Sehbai in lead roles.{{cite web|title=Upcoming Pakistani Movie Mah-e-Mir – Trailer|url=http://reviewit.pk/upcoming-pakistani-movie-mah-e-meer-trailer/|work=reviewit.pk|publisher=Saud|accessdate=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200654/http://reviewit.pk/upcoming-pakistani-movie-mah-e-meer-trailer/|archive-date=25 May 2014|url-status=dead}} It was the official submission by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee as the country's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1186316/mah-e-mir-selected-pakistans-official-submission-2017-oscars/ |title=Mah-e-Mir selected as Pakistan's official submission to 2017 Oscars |work=The Express Tribune |date=22 September 2016 |accessdate=22 September 2016}}

Mah-e-Mir {{cite web|title=Next in Pakistani cinema Mah e Mir|url=http://www.incpak.com/alerts/mah-e-meer/|work=INCPAK|date=9 May 2014|accessdate=24 May 2014}} is a story that follows the struggle of a contemporary poet and draws parallels with the events in Mir's life. The film was co-distributed by Hum Films and Eveready Pictures on 6 May 2016 nationwide.{{cite news|title=Mah-e-Meer To Finally See The Light Of Day On May 6|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/106871-Mah-e-Meer-to-finally-see-the-light-of-day-on-May-6|accessdate=19 April 2016|work=The News}}

Plot

The film's story focuses on the life of a modern-day poet named Jamal (Fahad Mustafa) going through a rough patch. The movie tries to draw parallels between Jamal's and Mir Taqi Mir's life with the story jumping from present day to Jamal's mind as he imagines himself to be Mir Taqi Mir in Lucknow focusing on the trials and tribulations that Mir once experienced (adapted from Mir's biography).{{cite web|title=Mah-e-Mir Movie Review: A Historical Masterpiece|url=http://www.brandsynario.com/mah-e-mir-movie-review-a-historical-masterpiece/|website=brandsynario|accessdate=7 May 2016}} His conflict with the royal court, his romance with a tawaif, his ideals of bringing Urdu poetry to the people in the streets and his eventual madness in full moon; all reflected in his poetry.[https://tribune.com.pk/story/705333/did-you-know-mah-e-meer-a-film-inspired-by-mir-unveiled/ Did you know?: Mah-e-Meer a film inspired by Mir unveiled], May 07, 2014

Cast

The film cast includes:{{cite web|title=New Pakistani Movie Mah-e-Mir|url=http://www.fashionstown.com/new-pakistani-movie-mah-e-meer/|work=Fashions Town|publisher=Nida Ahmad|accessdate=24 May 2014}}

Fahad Mustafa as Ahmad Jamal/Mir Taqi Mir
Iman Ali as Mysterious girl/Mahtab Bai
Sanam Saeed as Naina Kanwal
Manzar Sehbai as Dr. Kaleem
Huma Nawab as Kaleem's ex-wife
Alyy Khan as Nawab Sahab
Paras Masroor as Siraj {{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1398120/mah-e-mir-wins-big-dada-saheb-film-festival-india/|title='Mah-e-Mir' wins big at Dada Saheb Film Festival in India|last=Tribune.com.pk|date=2017-05-01|website=The Express Tribune|access-date=2019-05-18}}
Syed Fazal Hussain as Karam Elahi
Rashid Farooqui as Nawaz

Music

The music album launch ceremony was held in Dubai on 14 April 2016.{{cite web|title=Curtain Raiser: Mah-e-Mir Promotional Tour Begins|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine/instep-today/113542-Curtain-raiser-Mah-e-Mir-promotional-tour-begins|website=The News|publisher=Sadiq Saleem|accessdate=19 April 2016}}{{cite news|title=Mah-e-Mir cast, song launched|url=https://nation.com.pk/17-Apr-2016/mah-e-mir-cast-song-launched|website=The Nation|date=17 April 2016|accessdate=18 October 2018 }} The first song promo namely Us ka Kharam Dekh Kar was released the very next day. The second song Jaag Musafir was launched on 28 April at Beaconhouse National University followed by next song Ye Dhoan Sa was released on SoundCloud on 2 May.

Production

= Marketing =

The teaser trailer of film was released on 9 May 2014.{{cite web|title=Mah-e-Mir - Official Trailer 2014|url=http://www.brandsynario.com/news/mahemeer-official-trailer-2014|work=brandsynario|publisher=Maheen Nusrat|accessdate=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714123417/http://www.brandsynario.com/news/mahemeer-official-trailer-2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}} On 23 March, first look poster of film was revealed followed by theatrical trailer the same night.{{cite web|title=Fahad Mustafa, Imaan Ali's 'Mah-e-Mir' official poster, release date, trailer|url=http://www.thenewsteller.com/showbiz/fahad-mustafa-imaan-alis-mah-e-mir-official-poster-release-date-trailer/35783/|website=The News Teller|accessdate=19 April 2016}}{{cite web|title=Mah-e-Meer trailer out with rich, cultured performances|url=http://aaj.tv/2016/03/mah-e-meer-trailer-out-with-rich-cultured-performances/|website=Aaj News|publisher=Afshan Zahra|accessdate=19 April 2016}} The MaheMir team ran a decent promotional campaign visiting several institutes including Iqra University, Indus University and shows which includes Jeeto Pakistan, Morning Show Sitaray Ki Subah, Jago Pakistan Jago

Release

Earlier, the film was scheduled to release on 6 November 2015 but it was postponed and was released on 5 May 2016 in U.A.E and in Pakistan on 6 May.{{cite news|title='Mah-e-Meer' to hit theatres on May 6|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1073886/mah-e-meer-to-hit-theatres-on-may-6/|accessdate=19 April 2016|work=The Express Tribune}} The film was premiered in Karachi.{{cite web|title=Star-Studded Premiere of Pakistani Flick, Mahe Mir|url=http://www.samaa.tv/blogs/2016/05/star-studded-premiere-of-pakistani-flick-mahe-mir/|website=Samaa TV|accessdate=7 May 2016}} It was given a Universal (U) rating by the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC).{{cite web|title='Mah-e-Mir', 'Civil War' cleared with Universal rating in Pakistan|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1097902/mah-e-mir-civil-war-cleared-with-universal-rating-in-pakistan/|website=The Express Tribune|date=5 May 2016|accessdate=7 May 2016}}

Reception

=Box office=

According to BOD's prediction film might not have good business prior to film's big cast, as it was releasing opposite to Captain America: Civil War the same weekend.

=Critical response=

The film received huge praise for its creativity as The Express Tribune described it as "once in a blue moon film".

The film received good reviews from critics. Rafay Mahmood of The Express Tribune rated film 4/5 stars and verdicts "Watch the film with your friends and family. It is worth your money and initiates a constructive discourse".{{cite news|title=Review: 'Mah-e-Mir' is a once in a blue moon film|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1098447/review-mah-e-mir-is-a-once-in-a-blue-moon-film/|accessdate=7 May 2016|work=The Express Tribune|publisher=Rafay Mahmood}}

Mehreen Hasan of Dawn Images gave the film 4/5 stars and describes the film as "a rather prescient work that anticipates its every challenge in the box office, yet refuses to pander to what sells".{{cite news|title=Mah e Mir strongly criticises the commercialisation of the arts, but will anyone listen?|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1175296|accessdate=20 June 2018|work=DAWN.com|publisher=Mehreen Hasan}}

[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/author/lisa-tsering/ Lisa Tsering] from [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ The Hollywood Reporter] stated," The men’s performances are strong throughout. Mustafa captures the inner fire of a misunderstood writer (though we never see him, you know, writing) and does a decent job in bringing the Urdu poetry-heavy dialogue to life. Sehbai adds gravitas to his role as the elder poetry professor, and Khan puts in a spirited performance as Nawab. The women do not fare as well — Saeed simpers through her annoyingly mannered performance as the empowered female poet, and Ali’s face seems frozen into one expression as she delivers her lines in an unnaturally low growl".

=Awards=

Mah-e-Mir was awarded the Best Narrative Film Award at the Guam International Film Festival in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1176619|title=Mah-e-Mir wins big at the Guam International Film Festival|date=21 November 2016}}

class="wikitable"

! Ceremony

! {{Won}}

! {{Nom}}

16th Lux Style Awards
{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1388667/ahsan-khan-wins-lsa-best-actor-favourite-star-take-trophy-home/|title=A complete list of LSA 2017 winners|date=20 April 2017|website=The Express Tribune}}{{cite news|date=21 February 2018|accessdate=21 February 2018|work=The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1639834/4|title='Baaghi' and 'Punjab Nahi Jaungi' stole the show at Lux Style Awards 2018}}

Sahir Rasheed Khurram Rana and Badar Ikram – Best Film
Anjum Shehzad – Best Director
Fahad Mustafa – Best Actor
Manzar Sehbai – Best Supporting Actor
Shafqat Amanat Ali – Best Male Singer for "Piya Dekhan Ko"
Rajab Ali Khan – Best Male Singer for "Ye Dhuan"

3rd Galaxy Lollywood Awards{{cite web|url=https://galaxylollywood.com/2017/01/26/gala2017/|title=Galaxy Lollywood Awards 2017 Nominations|first=Galaxy|last=Lollywood|date=26 January 2017|publisher=}}