Released on Eidul Adha on big screens simultaneously in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s first horror blockbuster ‘Deemak’ (Termite) turns out to be an all-time favourite with the Pakistani fans of horror movies.
Despite the fact, it had a tough competition with ‘Love Guru’ and ‘The Mission Impossible-Final Reckoning’ released on the same day, Deemak with a gripping tale, haunting music, chilling situations, eerie laugher and fresh content has succeeded in pulling the crowds.
Late poet Parveen Shakir’s son and Toronto-based producer Syed Murad Ali who was at the release day at Lahore and later in Islamabad is confident that the 111-minute movie would succeed in giving the viewers a goosebumps.
While talking to a select number of guests at his aunt Parveen Qadir Agha’s residence who had hosted a dinner in his honour, Murad said since childhood he had special liking for the horror movies and this is the reason, he selected a horror story for his first movie to be released in Pakistan and the rest of the world.
I am lucky to have a scriptwriter like Ayesha Muzzafar who is known for posting horror stories on her social media account and a stellar cast including Samina Peerzada, Bushra Ansari, Faysal Quraishi, Sonya Hussayn, and Javed Sheikh, he said.
Co-produced by Wah Wah Productions and directed by Rafay Rashdi, the movie under the banner of Mandviwalla Entertainment has all the ingredients required for a blockbuster.
On the third day of the release, Monday, the Islamabad Club cinema recorded purchase of 184 tickets in 250-seat hall. “This is almost a house full. We were not expecting such a big number to turn up to watch a horror movie,” said an official of the club while talking to Pakistan Observer.
As the movie ends and the audience heaves a breath of relief with Faraz (Faysal Qureshi) finally agreeing with his wife Hiba (Sonya Hussyn) to leave the haunted house, the audience remained glued to their seats as if under the spell of the spirits (jinns). These evil spirits first targeted already traumatized Faraz’ mother Kulsoom (Sameena Pirzada) and took full control over her then they went for his two children Rafay and Rumaisa, who too had a narrow escape.
The haunting family horror drama shows Kulsoom’s troubled marriage life with her husband Mehmood (Javed Sheikh), the deceased patriarch. Her strained relation with her daughter-in-law is also something that adds family touch to the horror drama. Bushra Ansari (Ustani Ji) makes an appearance towards the tail end of the film when the situation is almost out of control. She interviews one of the jinns and tells Faraz that his house is not safe for humans.
According to Murad, the title Deemak was picked after much deliberations. In our family life, small altercations, misunderstandings act like deemak that destroys the entire positivity in relations and leaves everyone hollow and superstitious.
On a lighter note, Murad shard he had a ‘personal’ benefit of the movie. “I showed it to my two young daughters as they were excited to watch it. However, after watching the movie, they asked me, ‘Dad can we sleep in your room?’” It was after long time I had my daughters slept beside me, he said.
The visual effects have been crafted by Julia Milas and Imagine Magic Studios, while the film’s atmospheric sound design and background score are by Sohaib Rashdi. According to a couple of viewers, India too has made a number of horror movies, but Deemak has proven a far superior in terms of subject, visual effects and acting.
