2022 has been a roller coaster of a year for Pakistani films and Pakistani media in general. While the year started out slow with below average grossers, a film ban, and some flops, critical and commercial successes dotted the year from May onwards. And of course, the year ended with a bang with “The Legend of Maula Jatt” crossing 1 billion PKR in Pakistan.
Here are PakistaniCinema.Net’s picks for the best in Pakistani films of the year.
Best Film: Kamli
For weaving a heart wrenching experience and spell-bounding the audience into silence.
Best Director: Bilal Lashari
For pushing Pakistani cinema leaps and bounds ahead with a single strike of the Gandasa
Best Actor Male (Lead Role): Ali Junejo (Joyland)
With his celluloid debut, Ali Junejo as ‘Haider’ in “Joyland” gave the most brilliant performance in lead role.
Best Actor Female (Lead Role): Saba Qamar (Kamli)
For speaking volumes more with her eyes than words could.
Best Actor Male in a Supporting Role: Faris Shafi (TLOMJ)
For stealing the show in a film dominated by heavyweights.
Best Actor Female in a Supporting Role: Sania Saeed (Kamli)
For giving the best performance of the year.
Best Actor (Antagonist): Hamza Ali Abbasi
For giving the character of ‘Noori Nath’ new vigour and zeal.
Best Actor Debut: Raasti Farooq (Joyland)
For her flawless performance in the role of ‘Mumtaaz’ in her debut film “Joyland”
Best Director Debut: Saim Sadiq (Joyland)
For crafting a film so close to the real life with his cinema debut.
Best Musician: Saad Sultan (Kamli)
For making the wilderness in Kamli come alive.
Best Playback Singer Male: Sohail Shahzad
For imploring us with his voice to make the most of what is and not worrying about what will be.
Best Playback Singer Female: Zeb Bangash
For conveying so delicately that wish we all have to be seen and heard by someone out there in “Kaash”.
Best Lyrics: Sohail Shahzad for “Naina” (Kamli)
For ensnaring the audience in a web of words.
Best Original Score: Sarmad Ghafoor (TLOMJ)
For an epic score to an epic film, and especially for “Chann Pichay”
Best Cinematography: Bilal Lashari (TLOMJ)
For bringing a Punjab to the screen we’ve never seen before and providing us with best visual experience in theatres.
Best Editing: Bilal Lashari (TLOMJ)
For a tight knit, thrilling experience no one will ever forget.
Best Story: Fatimah Sattar (Kamli)
For essaying an storyline so familiar, yet so original, all while drawing from local folklore and culture.
Best Screenplay: Bilal Lashari (TLOMJ)
For translating a wholly Pakistani epic on to the screen for the new generation.
Best Dialogues: Nasir Adeeb (TLOMJ)
For proving once again that he’s a legend for a reason.
Special Recognition (FILM): Doda
For bringing back the voice of the Baloch People to the big screen through a relatable underdog story.
Special Recognition (TV): Sang-e-Mah
In the world of TV, the year 2022 saw a decline in quality of our TV production and we saw some ISPR sponsored narratives, brain-less Ramazan comedies and toxic masuculinity enforcing serials topping the charts. Yet, with its brilliant writing by Mustafa Afridi, fine direction by Saife Hasan, convincing performances by all lead and supporting cast and for shedding light on a social evil ‘Ghag’, “Sang e Mah” managed to deliver quality work on TV screens.
Special Recognition (Music): Xulfi (Coke Studio Season 14)
In the world of music industry, Xulfi revolutionized the Coke Studio Pakistan by infusing new, raw and diverse talent from across the nation and making Hassan Raheem, Justin Bibis, Young Stunners, Eva B, Aroof Aftaab and Kaifi Khalil to debut in Coke Studio with a single season.
2023 has a lot to live up to both in terms of stories and box office returns. Here’s hoping that the new year surprises us with even greater films and filmmakers than before
