‘Zinda Bhaag’ has finally debuted on YouTube ten years after release. The film hit theaters in 2013 when Pakistani cinema jolted to life with the release of ‘Waar’. ‘Zinda Bhaag’ was the only other film that year to make a name for itself.
The title of the film is taken from the expression “Pakistan Se Zinda Bhaag” (Run from Pakistan while you’re still alive); itself a satire on the patriotic “Pakistan Zindabad”. ‘Zinda Bhaag’ is about the race to migrate from Pakistan to foreign countries for better prospects, a better life, and most importantly, more money.
The 3 protagonists in the film constantly try to migrate from Pakistan using illegal means. While the film mostly takes an irreverent tone, it does venture into somber waters to highlight the plight of people who suffer after being fed a vision of a perfect life.
Marketed as Pakistan’s first official submission for Academy Awards after a gap of decades, ‘Zinda Bhaag’ was the big screen debut of Khurram Patras as the protagonist Khaldi and Amna Ilyas as his beloved Rubina. It also featured Naseeruddin Shah as the ‘Pehelwan’ who narrates the story.
You can watch it here.
